AFIDS
Aphids (Aphidoidea), also called aphids, are phytopathogenic insects belonging to the suborder Sternorrhyncha. It is estimated that there are about 10 families composed of four thousand species, of which 250 are pests that develop in forest crops, gardening and agricultural areas.
Its size ranges between one and ten millimeters. One of its most important anatomical features is a stylet that it has in the mouth, with which they are able to cross the "skin" of the plants to suck the phloem (vegetal tissue composed of vessels and ducts), and obtain the sap that It serves as sustenance.
It is this style of feeding that gives aphids that phytopathogenic character, which causes a delay in their growth and, in a certain way, influences their condition as parasites.
Their color varies between orange, green, yellow and black, and they usually inhabit warm and low humidity areas.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AFIDS
Aphids are one of the most common pests. They spend the night in colonies and its penetration into a plant is known because it shows obvious signs such as decay, deformations, dents in leaves and flowers, growth of molasses and proliferation of ants.
Another feature is that they can carry viruses, so they stop the growth of the bushes and their fruits, which even causes them to dry up.
There are monoecious species, which are hosted in only one plant, and heteroecias, which vary in number, depending on the season of the year. They usually spend the winter in a type of plant and in spring they change to a herbaceous plant.
For their reproduction, aphids are also divided into two types, viviparous aphids and oviparous, which remain in colonies for short periods of time.
TYPES OF PULGONES
The aphids are a plague that by its form of feeding assassinates diverse plants; This insect is commonly housed in young plants, absorbing the sap contained therein from the weak stems, which transmits sufficient nutrients to all the branches that it possesses.
In this section, we will detail the different types of aphids that exist in gardening.
Cotton aphid
cotton pulgon This type of aphid has two types of names, can be found as melon or cotton aphid, it feeds on various types of plants, but most of all those that are agricultural such as: zucchini, cucumber, watermelon and pumpkin.
These four types of plants are of striking appearance can sometimes be regarded as vines or tall stems. This aphid also attacks the plant and each leaf or weak stem that is growing until it is no longer receiving nutrients and slowly dying.
Tomato aphid.
As its name indicates, it is a pest that has fixed its attack on fruits such as tomatoes, where it must be in its tender phase for the insect to infect the fruit permanently making it impossible to consume.
Broom aphid.
Broom is a type of shrub that the aphid constantly attacks because of its temperature conditions and its large nutrients that can be found in the ramifications of the plant.
By the name of the shrub, the plague received its name of broom aphid.
Legume aphid.
pulgon de legumesLegs are seeds extracted from various plants, such as lentils, beans, soybeans, peanuts and peanuts, among others. This type of plant is attacked by pulses of legumes or legumes.
It should be mentioned that there are other types of aphids, but all share the same type of action against plants.
In addition to having different appearances, which can lead to confusion about whether we have aphids or not in our garden, for this reason the most present signs will be the black ants in our garden.
CURIOSITIES ON THE REPRODUCTION OF THE AFIDS
The vast majority of aphids are extraordinarily prolific. The females can have between 50 and 100 offspring. From its birth to adulthood it takes approximately eight days and then they can reproduce themselves, managing to have 150 children per month, but logically not all survive. A curious aspect is that you do not need a male so that aphids can multiply, they can even occur asexually. The aphids of the mothers that do not lay eggs, are identical to them, but smaller.
Attack characteristics of aphids.
Although there are different species of aphids, their same function is maintained.
Next, the characteristics that they possess in their attack against the plants or their union with the black ants in the orchards or plantations will be highlighted.
All aphid pests are infectious, that is, they not only affect the plant by absorbing the sap from it, but they also have the power to store in their bodies the remains of viruses obtained by those plants that are sick, for this reason many other plants that are healthy are contaminated since the aphids when biting the stem or leaf ends up transmitting all those batteries that will produce the disease in the plant.
As it has been mentioned in some occasions, the aphids have the tendency to attack everything that is considered weak in a plant, in this case the growing fruits or the considered shoots, the weak stems that allow the entrance of the tongs of the mouths of this plague and the leaves.
The aphids secrete a type of slime or syrupy liquid at the moment they are feeding on the plants, as if they were announcing to other insects what their territory is. But the consequences of this type of liquid is the appearance of the so-called black ants, which become partners of this insect since its segregations are quite sweet, attracting the ants quickly leading the plants to a faster and safer death . The pact that occurs between these two species becomes very simple, the ants eliminate any type of predator that can eliminate the aphid as long as they continue to produce so-called molasses.
Sometimes the aphids secrete a fungus on the leaves that is called bold, which causes a very strong damage to the plants since it causes that photosynthesis can not be produced in them, causing them to not carry out their natural process, damaging them. inside out.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THE PULGONES
To keep your plants free of any pest is necessary to follow a series of indications that allow not only keep away the insects but help you to have clean and healthy garden.
For this reason we will give you tips that will allow you to follow the above mentioned.
Make a daily review of the garden, to evaluate that your plants do not have any type of insect.
Insects or plagues feel repelled by all those plants that generate a strong but pleasant smell such as basil, mint, cilantro and more.
If in your supervision of the plants you observe in the earth or in some part of the leaves or stem black ants, then you will be warned that the aphid is in your plants.
It is necessary that you have knowledge on how to maintain your plants with nutrients, fertilizers and all those aspects that can make them stay healthy and can defend against attacks by pests, resulting in a better recovery of the damage received.
Investigate the predators of the aphid, so that when you are creating your garden keep them in them so that the pests feel threatened and can not get close to your plants. Some of the predators that we can mention are: the ladybug, the parasitoids, the cecidomids, among other species that can be very effective in frightening the aphids.
HOME REPELLENTS
A good option to eradicate aphids in plants is to spray them with soapy water. Ideally, use a spoonful of neutral soap, diluted in a liter of water.
Another alternative is to boil two cups of water with the peel of an orange, let the mixture rest for a day, strain, add a little white soap and sprinkle the infected plant.
Onion can also be a great ally. It is advisable to use two large units for each liter of water, boil for ten minutes, cool, strain and apply the infusion with a sprayer.
Garlic is another great product that can be used as a repellent for these insects. To make the most of it, several teeth must be placed on the ground, cut in halves or whole. This will ward off pests. Whoever prefers can boil eight cloves of garlic in a liter of water for 20 minutes, let stand for 24 hours and water the bushes with it.
The aforementioned nettle is very useful. It is necessary to macerate 100 grams of leaves in water for fifteen days, strain and use on the plants in which there are aphids. This not only keeps away the parasites, but also strengthens the plants and increases their resistance to other pests and animals.
Boiled tomato leaves are another remedy against aphids, as is wormwood. The latter should use 300 grams per liter of water, for a week, then be ready to spray it
Horsetail is another powerful resource to strengthen the resistance of the plant. It is recommended to apply it during the spring or after having overcome a picture of pests and insects, to promote and accelerate the recovery of the plant.
Prevention is the best weapon to protect plants, so maintaining a routine of care and constant vigilance is essential so that aphids do not attack crops.