Aphids
Often called plant lice, aphids are small, soft-bodied insects. They range in color from black to green to yellow. Their numbers may greatly increase in a short time and crowding stimulates the production of winged forms. They may cover the entire surface of a leaf or stem. They can be vectors of viruses. Encourage natural predators, such as ladybird beetles or lacewing larvae, to help keep their populations in check. Lacewing eggs can be purchased from seed companies. These eggs soon hatch and yield good aphid control. There are also chemicals that can be used to control them.
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- Aphids (Green Peach Aphids)
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- Aphids on pepper leaves
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- Aphids on beet leaves
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- Corn Leaf Aphids
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- Corn Leaf Aphids (closer view)
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- Foxglove Aphid on a lettuce leaf (this aphid has a wide host range)
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- Potato Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) (winged form)
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- Potato Aphid (‘Winged Rose’ stage)
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- Ladybug Larva with Green Peach Aphids
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- Two-spotted Lady Beetles (aphid predators) (Adalia bipunctata)
Additional Information:
- Sucking Insects that Affect Vegetable Plants (UMaine Extension)
- Aphids [pdf] (Cornell)
- Black Bean Aphids (BugGuide.net)
- Corn Leaf Aphids (BugGuide.net)
- Green Peach Aphids
- Foxglove Aphids (UC IPM)
- Potato Aphids (BugGuide.net)
- Potato (and other) Aphids (part of UMaine Extension’s Potato IPM Program)
- Aphids (part of our UMaine Extension Potato IPM Field Guide)
- Managing Aphids in Greenhouses (Cooperative Extension; Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)