Question:
Do Aphids lay eggs in the dirt? I know that they are found on the stems and leaves of plants. Do I also need to treat the soil? This year, I'm looking to get an early start in controlling them.Answer:
- Soil treatment is not necessary for controlling Aphid. Aphids are slow-moving, above-ground insects, but they can develop wings and fly.
- Ants have been known to ferry them around, as their secretions are a food source for them. They're problematical on roses and other plants in the spring and again maybe in the fall on camellias and a few other plants.
- Aphids feed on the plant sugar produced in the phloem tissue of the soft new growth. Chemicals found in these fluids stimulate the reproduction rate; hence, the population can go from a few to hundreds overnight.
- With few exceptions, the spring and summer Aphids are almost exclusively wingless females. The males are found in the fall, and this is when mating occurs. The high population count can lead to the Aphids competing with each other for food. This results in the host plant(s) rapidly being depleted of their sap. At this time, the Aphid hormones trigger the production of winged Aphids so they can move on and establish new populations.
- The females don't lay eggs; instead, they give birth to young females who mature quickly. In the fall, winged females and males are born. They find suitable mates, and the females lay eggs on perennial host plants, where they then overwinter. These eggs carry on the family tree, producing next year's first batch of wingless females.
- Aphids are soft body insects, so they're easy to control with various organic and non-organic solutions. There are natural predators, such as Ladybugs and Praying Mantis. They are the most successful when released when the Aphids are present. Horticultural Oils such as Neem Oil or Insecticidal Soap are organic solutions that are reapplied as necessary. Again the Aphids need to be present. The systemic rose care products are applied before the Aphids show up and last for six weeks, so you can effectively prevent the problem from occurring. You'll also find systemic products also combine fertilizer and or rose disease control so you can do multiple tasks with one application.
- Aphids should be showing up at any time now. I have my preferred solution ready and be on the lookout for the first sign of their arrival.
Questions
Can polystyrene or Styrofoam pellets be mixed into soil for better aeration? I did not know if they're toxic when used around vegetables. I'm just trying to recycle.Answer:
- I'm not aware that there is an issue with the polystyrene or Styrofoam pellets in soil or soil mixes. It's more typically used at the bottom of containers instead of rock to lighten a container's overall weight. It takes a very long time to break down