Aphids
Aphids are sap-sucking insects that cluster on new plant growth and secrete sticky honeydew.
Background & Behavior
(Aphidoidea) Commonly called plant lice, aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on the sap of garden and indoor plants. They reproduce rapidly, forming dense colonies that stunt plant growth and cause leaves to curl or yellow. Aphids secrete sticky honeydew that attracts mold and other pests. Though they don’t harm homes directly, they can destroy gardens and landscaping.
DIY Approaches
- Spray infested leaves with a strong water blast to dislodge colonies.
- Introduce ladybugs or lacewings to gardens to consume aphids naturally.
- Wipe plant stems with a mild dish soap solution to suffocate soft bodies.
- Remove heavily infested plant tips and dispose of them in sealed bags.
- Apply neem oil weekly during outbreaks to disrupt feeding and reproduction.
Professional Services
- Hire horticultural specialists for systemic treatments that protect ornamental plants.
- Request greenhouse-safe insect growth regulators to break aphid life cycles.
- Have arborists inject trunk treatments for large trees suffering aphid damage.
- Schedule commercial landscape monitoring for early aphid detection.
- Coordinate seasonal fertilisation and pruning plans to reduce aphid stressors.
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