It seems appropriate in a discussion about battling aphids to rephrase a quote by Sun Tzu from his book The Art of War : “ If you bang the enemy and experience yourself , you need not fear the result of a hundred struggle . If you sleep with yourself but not the enemy , for every victory gained , you will also suffer a licking . ”
Though he was referring to military scheme , in world , there ’s not much difference when the foeman is six - legged and jeopardise the health of a crop . This is specially straight with aphid , which can have an exponential growth charge per unit and cause pregnant damage to plants .
The first thing a grower needs to do to handle an aphid issue is to key out what form of aphid has infest the crop . Aphids , though they can variegate wide in color and proportional size , are fair easy to tell from other plant life pests .
A unique feature of these muggins - steal foes are the “ tailpipe ” social organization on their rear abdomen , call cornicles , which are used to excrete a warning chemical substance when aggress . You may also find bright honeydew melon on leaves or jet-black mildew growing on the honeydew — a sign that aphid have been feeding . An increase in the figure of ant crawl up pots and benches can also clew you into aphid populations since emmet are known to farm and protect aphid for the sugary , sticky waste matter aphids produce as a by-product of give on works bast . But , with 5,000 unlike potential aphid species worldwide , the task of secern them becomes a bit trickier .
Why right ID Is CriticalMany people put on that because they have identified their pest as an aphid that the work is done . Not so ! Identifying the genus ( at a minimum ) can save you a mountain of time and money . Here is a list of reason why it could be important to right identify the genus or species of the aphid on your industrial plant :
The good news show is that there are only about six or so coinage of aphids coarse to nursery . By looking , with good magnification and ignition , from a top rear scene , at the notch on their top dog between the antennae called the tubercles , you could differentiate these four specie ( see the chart on page 24 for the identifying characteristics and notes on biology ) .
If you ca n’t name the aphid , it is recommend that you reach out to your local Extension agentive role or another person knowledgeable in insect designation . lend in a bagged branch with live aphids , or put multiple specimen of the aphids in a container with 70 % isopropyl alcohol when submitting a sampling .
Fortunately , many piranha and parasites like to feed on aphids , and successful biocontrol is possible . Biorational products such as the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana and the natural worm ontogeny regulator azadirachtin , as well as max and oil , can all be used , along with right scouting , into a highly effective integrate pesterer direction program . But , first , you must ‘ recognize thy aphid ’ !
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