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How to Manage Pests
UC Pest Management Guidelines
Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries
Aphids
Scientific names: Melon aphid: Aphis gossypii
Green peach aphid: Myzus persicae
(Reviewed 1/04,
updated 1/04)
In this Guideline:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS
Aphids are distinguished from other insects by the presence of cornicles,
tubelike appendages that protrude from the rear of the aphid. Numerous species
of aphids attack California ornamental crops, but the two species most commonly
encountered are the green peach
aphid and the cotton or melon
aphid. Melon aphids are typically dark green, but color variations
do occur frequently. The cornicles are relatively short, stout, and always
dark. Melon aphids have red eyes and antennae that only reach to the middle of
the abdomen. Green peach aphid is characterized by a depression in the front of
the head between the antennae (best seen with the use of a hand lens) and by
long thin, translucent cornicles that extend beyond the tip of the body. Green
peach aphids vary in color from yellowish green to rose pink. Winged adults
have a dark blotch in the middle of the abdomen.
Adult aphids may or may not have wings. Winged aphids are produced as a result
of crowding. Green peach aphids produce winged adults at lower population
densities than the melon aphid. The optional temperature for green peach aphid
development is 75°F, whereas optional temperatures for development of
melon aphids are above 75°F.
Adult aphids give birth to live young. Generally, aphids begin giving birth
when they are 7 to 10 days old, depending on temperature.
DAMAGE
Aphids excrete copious amounts of honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance that they
produce as they feed on the plants. The honeydew can cover leaves and other
plant parts and cause the plants to become sticky. Black sooty molds then grow
on the honeydew. The white shed skins of the aphids frequently are stuck to the
plant surfaces by the honeydew and further detract from the plant's appearance.
Sufficient feeding can cause foliage to become yellowed, and feeding on newly
developing tissues can cause those parts to become twisted as they grow. Melon
aphids are known to transmit 44 plant viruses, while green peach aphids are
known to transmit more than 100 plant viruses.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Predators such as lacewings (Chrysoperla spp. and midges
(Aphidoletes aphidimyza) are commercially available.
Parasites, such as Aphidius spp., Lysiphlebus testaceipes, Diaeretiella rapae, and Aphelinus
abdominalis, are also commercially available.
CULTURAL CONTROL
Because aphids feed on a large variety of plant species, keep production areas
free of weeds, which can serve as hosts of aphid populations. Exclusion of
winged adults can be accomplished by covering openings to the greenhouse with
screens that have a pore width of 355 microns or smaller. Before starting a new
crop, carefully inspect plants to ensure that they are free of aphids and other
pests. Treat or rogue any infested plants.
MONITORING and WHEN TO TREAT
Yellow sticky cards placed in greenhouses will
capture winged adults. However, aphids
produce winged individuals in response to crowding so monitoring plants for
infestations is an essential component of managing and detecting these pests
before populations get too high. Melon aphids tend to have a more uniform
vertical distribution on plants than green peach aphids, which tends to be
clustered around growing points, meaning that infestations of melon aphids
under lower leaves can easily go undetected if these areas are not inspected.
Green peach aphids will produce winged individuals at lower densities than
melon aphids on crops such as chrysanthemums. Use at least one sticky trap per
10,000 square feet (900 sq m) of growing area for monitoring aphids. Consider
treating if an average of 5 to 10 aphids per card per week is present.
TREATMENT
Selected Materials Registered for Use on Greenhouse or Nursery Ornamentals
Read and follow the instructions on the label before using any pesticide.
Before using a pesticide for the first time or on a new crop or cultivar, treat
a few plants and check for phytotoxicity.
| Class |
|
Pesticide (commercial name) |
Manufacturer |
R.E.I.1 |
Comments |
| biological |
A. |
Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard 22 WP)
(BotaniGard ES) |
Emerald BioAg. |
4
12 |
Treat every 7 days while insects are active. Do not tank mix
with most fungicides and wait 48 hours after application to apply a
fungicide. |
|---|
| botanical |
A. |
cinnamaldehyde
(Cinnacure) |
Proguard |
4 |
After 2 applications, rotate to an insecticide of a different
chemistry for at least 2 applications. Do not apply to stressed plants or newly
transplanted material before roots are established. Do not apply through any
type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| B. |
pyrethrin/PBO2
(PT 1100 Pyrethrum TR) |
Whitmire MicroGen |
12 |
An aerosol. |
|---|
| C. |
pyrethrin/rotenone
(Pyrellin EC) |
Webb Wright |
12 |
|
|---|
| carbamate |
A. |
methiocarb* (Mesurol 75W) |
Gowan |
24 |
Apply in 50 gal water. Repeat as necessary up to 4
applications/season. Do not apply with oil or foliar fertilizer. Do not use
through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| insect growth regulator |
A. |
azadirachtin
(Azatin XL Plus) |
Olympic |
4 |
Must contact insect. Repeated applications as necessary. Aphid
suppression only. Label permits low-volume application. |
|---|
| B. |
azadirachtin
(Ornazin 3%EC) |
SePRO |
12 |
Do not exceed 22.5 oz/acre/application. |
|---|
| C. |
pyriproxyfen
(Distance) |
Valent |
12 |
Do not apply more than 2 times per cropping cycle or per 6
months. Do not use through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| D. |
s-kinoprene
(Enstar II) |
Wellmark |
4 |
Apply prebloom. Also labeled for low volume use. Do not apply
through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| neonicotinoid |
A. |
imidacloprid
(Marathon 1G)
(Marathon II) |
Olympic |
12 |
Not to be used more than once every 16 weeks. Alternate with
insecticides that have a different mode of action to prevent development of
resistance to neonicotinoids. Do not apply to soils that are water logged or
saturated. Do not apply to bedding plants intended to be used as food
crops. |
|---|
| B. |
imidacloprid
(Marathon 60 WP) |
Olympic
|
12 |
As above, but apply only as a drench. |
|---|
| oil3 |
A. |
clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil
(Triact 70) |
Certis |
4 |
Do not spray plants under stress. Target pest must be
completely covered with spray-this material may not effectively control melon
aphid because it is often on the underside of lower leaves. Check label for
list of plants that can be treated. May cause injury to flowers. Do not use
through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| B. |
horticultural oil
Ultra-Fine Oil
SafTSide
JMS Stylet Oil |
Whitmire MicroGen
Brandt
JMS Farms |
4
4
4
|
Use as above for neem oil. Also, do not use with sulfur fungicides; check label for tank mix restrictions.
|
|---|
| organochlorine |
A. |
endosulfan*
(Endosulfan 3EC) |
Gowan |
24 |
Check local water/runoff restrictions. Some varieties of
chrysanthemum exhibit phytotoxicity. Do not use through any type of irrigation
system or apply more than 3 lb a.i./ acre/season. |
|---|
| organophosphate |
A.
|
acephate
(Address) |
Dow |
24 |
Do not use through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| B. |
acephate
(Orthene T, T&O Spray) 75WP |
Valent |
24 |
A number of chrysanthemum varieties have exhibited phytotoxic
reactions. Only labeled for use on anthurium, cacti, carnation, rose, orchids,
some foliage plants, young poinsettia and some varieties of chrysanthemum. Can
stunt new growth in roses. Do not use through any type of irrigation
system. |
|---|
| C. |
acephate
(PT 1300 Orthene TR) |
Whitmire MicroGen |
24 |
An aerosol that is only for greenhouse use. |
|---|
| D. |
chlorpyrifos*
(PT DuraGuard ME) |
Whitmire MicroGen |
24 |
|
|---|
organophosphate/
pyrethroid |
A. |
chloropyrifos/
cyfluthrin*
(PT Duraplex TR) |
Whitmire MicroGen |
24 |
An aerosol. |
|---|
| pyrethroid4 |
A. |
bifenthrin*
(Attain TR) |
Whitmire MicroGen |
12 |
Check label. A fogger for greenhouse use only. |
|---|
| B. |
bifenthrin*
(Talstar Flowable) |
FMC |
12 |
Label permits low-volume application. Do not use through any
type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| C. |
cyfluthrin
(Decathlon 20 WP) |
Olympic |
12 |
Label permits low-volume application. Do not use through any
type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| D. |
deltamethrin*
(DeltaGard) |
Bayer |
12 |
Do not use through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| E. |
fenpropathrin*
(Tame 2.4 EC) |
Valent |
24 |
Label permits low-volume application. Do not use through any
type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| F. |
fluvalinate
(Mavrik Aquaflow) |
Wellmark |
12 |
Label permits low-volume application. Also labeled as a cutting
dip at 5 fl oz/100 gal. Do not use through any type of irrigation system. |
|---|
| G. |
lambda-cyhalothrin*
(Scimitar) |
Syngenta |
24 |
Supplemental label for greenhouse and nursery use. Apply at
7-day intervals. Do not apply more than 52.4 fl oz of concentrate/acre/year. Do
not mix with EC formuations or oils. |
|---|
| H. |
permethrin*
(Astro) |
FMC |
12 |
Direct application to blooms may cause browning of petals.
Marginal leaf burn may occur on salvia, diffenbachia and pteris fern. Label
permits low-volume application. Do not apply more than 2 lb
a.i./acre/year. |
|---|
| pyridine |
A. |
pymetrozine
(Endeavor) |
Syngenta |
12 |
Do not use through any type of irrigation system. Apply as
foliar spray at 7-14 day intervals. For outdoor use, do not apply more than 48
oz/acre/year; for indoor use, do not use more than 100 oz. |
|---|
| soap3 |
A. |
potash soap
(Insecticidal soap)
(M-Pede) |
Olympic
DowAgro |
12
12
|
Must contact insect, so thorough coverage is important. Repeat weekly as needed
up to 3 times. Test for phytotoxicity. Do not spray new transplants or newly
rooted cuttings. Do not add adjuvants. |
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UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries
UC ANR Publication 3392
Insects and Mites
K. L. Robb, UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego Co.
H. S. Costa, Entomology, UC Riverside
J. A. Bethke, Entomology, UC Riverside
M. P. Parrella, Entomology, UC Davis
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
R. S. Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Windsor, CT
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