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Aphids (Homoptera Aphididae) also known as plant lice are tiny (1/8″) soft bodied, oval to pear shape insects that come in green, pink, red, brown, black or dusty gray. The woolly apple aphid has a fluffy white cottony coating that closely resembles a mealybug. They congregate in groups and feed on the plant juices of young leaves, succulent tip growth and flower buds causing curling, stunted and distorted leaves. Infested leaves can wilt in bright sunlight and turn yellow/brown. The whole plant can turn pale yellow and stop growing. For infestation, the check new growth, stems and underside of leaves. Root aphids attack plant roots and display similar symptoms.
Aphids excrete honeydew which attracts ants and is the perfect medium for black, sooty mold fungus. In addition, they can also transmit incurable viral diseases. Most damage occurs when temperatures are 65-80 degrees.

They develop from an egg to adult but give birth to mature insects and reproduce rapidly.
Each adult aphid can produce 80 offspring within a week. Some mature adults have wings and fly infecting other plants.

Aphid control: A strong water spray will wash them off the plant, repeat at least 3 times. If that doesn’t work use insecticidal soap every 3-5 days for two weeks.
A stronger alternative is pyrethrum/ alcohol spray: combine 1 TBS alcohol to 1 pint of pyrethrum. The solution should have direct contact with the aphids to be effective. Other chemical remedies are available. Be sure to follow label directions for safe application on specific plants.

Natural enemies such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps, syphrid fly larvae and lacewing larvae are biological controls that feed on aphids. They reduce the population and can eliminate the need for treatment when present. Aphids are also susceptible to fungal disease in humid weather. Look for reddish or brown, shriveled dead aphids