Which pesticides are effective for controlling aphids?

Aphids, also known as greasy bugs or honey bugs, are a type of phytophagous insect with a very wide distribution worldwide, but mainly concentrated in temperate regions, and are also one of the most destructive pests on Earth. So, what pesticide should be used for aphids?

1. What pesticide should be used for aphids?

You can use 50% malathion emulsion at 1000 times dilution, 50% fenitrothion emulsion at 1000 times dilution, 50% pirimicarb wettable powder at 3000 times dilution, 2.5% deltamethrin emulsion at 3000 times dilution, 2.5% fenpropathrin emulsion at 3000 times dilution, or 40% imidacloprid water-soluble concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution, etc., to spray the plants 1-2 times.

2. Methods for controlling aphids

1. Chemical control

When large numbers of aphids are found, spray pesticides promptly (see above). You can also prepare chili water at a ratio of 1:6-1:8 (boil for about half an hour), or spray with laundry detergent water prepared at a ratio of 1:20-1:30, or spray with a mixed solution of laundry detergent, urea, and water prepared at a ratio of 1:20:400, spraying the plants continuously 2-3 times; for aphids such as the mealy peach aphid that are themselves covered with waxy powder, when applying any pesticide, 1% soap water or laundry detergent should be added to increase adhesion and improve control effectiveness.

2. Manual control

In autumn and winter, whitewash the base of tree trunks to prevent aphids from laying eggs; combined with pruning, cut off damaged branch tips and spent flowers, and burn them in a centralized manner to reduce the overwintering population; in winter, scrape or brush off the densely overwintering egg masses on the bark, and promptly clean up fallen branches and leaves to reduce overwintering eggs; in spring, when a small number of aphids are found on flowers, you can use a writing brush dipped in water to brush them off, or tilt the potted flowers under running tap water and rotate them to rinse them clean.

3. Protect natural enemies

Aphids have many natural enemies, including ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps, which have a strong suppressive effect on aphids. Apply broad-spectrum pesticides as little as possible, avoid applying pesticides during peak periods of natural enemy activity, and where conditions permit, artificially rear and release aphid natural enemies.

Because aphids cause relatively great harm to plants, when growing crops, the principle of “prevention first, timely control” should mainly be followed for aphids.