Aphids unveiled: Nature's hand or man's intervention?

Aphids are everywhere. If you grow perennials outdoors, they are everywhere in the environment. If you grow indoors, there are probably a few lurking around.

Aphid populations can quickly get out of hand, but luckily they can be easier than other pests to kill. Since they are soft-bodied and slow-moving, they are very susceptible to insecticidal soaps and oils. This can often be your first line of attack to reduce aphids and protect beneficial organisms and workers.

Aphids are also heavily attacked by many biological control organisms that can be released into your greenhouse or that find them naturally in outdoor crops. These include predators like lady beetles, green lacewings, hoverfly larvae but especially parasitoid wasps that lay eggs inside of the aphids.

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Photo: Greenhouse Management

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