Aphids, 5 ways to fight honeybees (+video)
May 7, 2022 39 Comments
The aphid is the most common insect that appears on our garden and balcony plants. Many people refer to it as «plant louse», but it is better known under the name meligra.
Whatever we call her, one thing is certain! Meligra, this tiny insect makes no exceptions and attacks most plants, from horticultural and ornamental plants to aromatic plants and most fruit trees.
There are many types of meligrass that cause problems for plants and they even have different shades, green, yellow-green, green-grey, white, pink and even black. Examples include the cabbage aphid, the cotton aphid, the peach aphid, the apple aphid, the rose aphid and the potato aphid.
Starting from spring, with the rise in temperature, it is good to carefully observe our plants and check for the possible presence of meligra on the plants to be able to protect them in time.
Let’s see in detail which plants aphids attack, what problems they create, which conditions favor their growth, as well as natural ways to deal with them ecologically.
In which plants does meligra occur?
Meligra attacks most plants in our garden and balcony and causes significant damage.
Aphids are usually found on young shoots and leaves of vegetables, such as cucumber, squash, melon, watermelon, tomato, pepper, eggplant, and potato cultivation.
A large number of ornamental plants are attacked on shoots, leaves and flowers by aphids such as rose, petunia, serphinia, chrysanthemum and hibiscus. We will also find meligra in aromatic plants such as basil, mint and mint.
Meligra on a rose flower
Many fruit trees face significant infestations of melygra every year such as orange crop, tangerine crop, lemon crop, pomegranate crop, apricot crop and apple crop.
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What damage do aphids cause to plants?
Aphids cause significant damage to plants by developing large populations of insects that suck plant juices.
Very often, meligra creates deformations of young shoots and leaves. In the case of a meligra attack, we notice that the leaves twist, taking on a characteristic form of curling.
Reeling on the meligra leaves
In addition to the direct damage they do to plants, bees produce honeydew secretions and this leads to the growth of the tobacco fungus that causes browning of the foliage. This has the effect of reducing the photosynthetic activity of the plants and their gradual weakening.
In addition, we must note that the meligra is a carrier of dangerous viruses of citrus trees, such as tristetsa, as well as viruses of horticultural and ornamental plants.
What conditions favor the infestation of plants by meligra?
The development of meligra is favored in hygrothermal conditions and in conditions of poor ventilation, where we have a greater intensity of attacks. The critical period, during which plants can be affected by meligra, is from March to October in an environment of relative humidity and temperatures of 20-25°C.
Because aphids are sensitive to very high temperatures, during periods of heat they show reduced populations and the intensity of the infestation decreases. Also, in the winter season, due to low temperatures, aphids do not develop populations, as they hibernate and consequently we do not face problems.
Plants that have been neglected and have not received good care, such as those that have been left bare and without fertilizer, face a greater risk of being attacked by meligra.
Ecological ways to protect plants with natural materials
How is meligra treated in a natural, ecological way?
In the context of an integrated ecological and biological control of honeybees in our garden, we can apply one of the following measures or a combination of measures:
1. Wetting the plants with water
A gentle way to repel aphids is by using water. Spray plants infested with water under pressure to remove them from the surface of the leaves and from the affected shoots. Applying pressurized water is best done at dusk, especially during the summer months. We avoid watering our plants during midday hours or during sunny hours, as there is a high risk of developing fungal diseases or causing burns to the plant foliage.
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2. Spraying with green soap
A natural and effective way to treat meligra by sprinkling is by using an improvised recipe that we make with homemade ingredients by dissolving 1 tablespoon of grated green soap and one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol in 1 liter of water. For the preventive treatment from meligra insects, we spray our plants every 2 weeks, from spring to autumn. In case of infestation of the plants by meligra, spraying with green soap solution should be done every week.
How we use green soap on our garden plants
3. Spray with lavender and rosemary essential oils
A second improvised recipe for protecting plants from aphids is using essential oils from the aromatic plants of our garden. Specifically, we place 20 grams of lavender flowers and 10 grams of rosemary flowers in a liter of distilled or rain water, and leave it for a week in a shady place. We strain the solution that has been created and spray the foliage of our plants every week for the preventive treatment of meligra.
How to make essential oils at home
4. Spraying with biological insecticides
To combat aphids, we spray the plant foliage 1-2 times a month with organic insecticides. The most exfoliating preparations for dealing with meligra are summer pulp, potassium salts and natural pyrethrin. These formulations are approved for use in organic farming and can be obtained from agricultural stores. The plants are sprayed at a temperature lower than 28°C, as at higher temperatures burns can be created on the foliage of the plants.
Pyrethrum and natural pyrethrin for insect protection
5. Protection with ladybugs
The red ladybugs are considered to be among the most beneficial insects in our garden, as they are the most important natural enemy of the meligra and can help us significantly in the effective fight against it. So if we see a ladybug in our garden, we can take it and leave it on the leaves of the rose or lemon tree to act as a watchful guard against the honeybee. It is worth mentioning that one ladybug can devour up to 50 meligras insects in one day. At a professional level, systematic ladybird breeding and release in greenhouses is carried out to protect against ladybugs in both horticultural and ornamental crops.
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And a secret for dealing with meligra
Meligra creates characteristic honeydews that are excellent food for the ants in our garden. That’s why when we see ants on the foliage of plants, it is a sign that they have probably been attacked by the meligra insect. In several cases, it has been observed that ants block ladybugs when they try to attack the meligra in order not to lose their food, the honeydew.
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