Aphids are small and delicate insects that may be yellow, green, brown, grey or black in colour. A feature to easily identify and aphid are the two short 'tails' or cornicles at the rear of the body. Aphids are wingless but when a colony gets to large new generations of aphids develop wings, to fly to the next plant.

Signs of Aphid Infestation:

Growth tips, leaves and flowers will be packed with aphids. Look for growth tips and leaves that are dying off as well as flowers that are stunted. aphids cause curly leaf syndrome, scroll down.

Damage Done by Aphids:

Aphids are sap feeders, they kill off growth tips and leaves and do damage to flowers. Certain species of Aphid's salive cause leaves to curl and twist together, curly leaf. Due to Aphids being sap feeders they may also transport other more serious plant diseases with them when they move to other plants. Aphids also secrete honeydew, a sweet substance that ants are fond of; see ants, mealybug, sooty mold.

Aphid colony on corn Picture: Aphid colony on the flowering parts of a mielie/corn plant. Note the ants protecting the aphids in exchange for the honeydew that the aphids excrete.

Treatment of Aphids:

Environmentally friendly:

Make a solution of 5ml liquid detergent and 1l water, use the force of the spray to wash the Aphids off.
Ladybugs are Aphids (Green Fly)s natural predator, introduce them into your greenhouse.

Chemical Treatment:

Bupirimate/Pirimicarb/Triforine
Bifenthrin
Butoxycarboxim
Chlorpyrifos
Cyfluthrin/Piperonyl butoxide
Cypermethrin
Deltamethrin
Dimethoate
Fatty Acids
Fenitrothion
gamma-BHC
Mercaptothion
Oxydemeton methyl
Phenothrin/Tetramethrin