Aphids: What Are They How To Identify & Get Rid Of Them

Have you ever had a problem with aphids? Ever wanted to know how to get rid of aphids? It’s better to know how to get rid of aphids before you get them.

I have a beautiful climbing rose my kids bought me for Mother’s Day a couple of years ago and it started growing and blooming like gangbusters this year. Much faster than ever before.

I was so happy with it and I was admiring it day to day. It’s a multicolor rose bush so I always love seeing what color will bloom and then the day came when I saw some signs of the dreaded aphids…. they had found my rose bush and decided to make a home on it.

Despite their minuscule size, aphids are one of the most destructive pests you can encounter in the garden. These green bugs feed on a wide range of plants and suck the life out of an otherwise blooming garden.

In this blog, we’ll be talking about everything you need to know about aphids—from how you can identify them to how you can get rid of these pests. Let’s get started.

What are Aphids

Aphids are tiny sucking insects from the Aphididae family. There are over 4,000 species of aphids found all over the world. Of those, around 250 are considered destructive to both agriculture and forestry. They can be found all over the world but they prefer temperate zones.

They often appear to be pear-shaped with long antennae and legs. They come in various shades and colors including green, red, pink, brown, white, black, and translucent. Some species of aphids also have a wooly or waxy coating caused by a secretion they produce.

Adult aphids are usually wingless. However, if a colony is already established, winged aphids can appear. This allows them to fly and infect new host plants.

These insects tend to cluster on the underside of leaves where they suck the sap from it. Even if the leaves are moved, they aren’t easily disturbed.

Often you’ll see a plant covered in ants – that is normally a sure sign that there are aphids on that plant.

Ants eat the honeydew that aphids secrete, so the ants will protect them on the plants. Next time you see a large population of ants on one of your plants, check to see if you have an aphid infestation.

Some of the most common aphids you can find in the US include:

Cabbage Aphids

The species Brevicoryne brassicae appears gray-green and are often found in dense clusters under the leaves of cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and kale. They can also be found feasting on radish plants.

Melon or Cotton Aphids

Aphis gossypii are dark green insects with black cornicles. Their plant hosts include vegetables commonly grown in home gardens. However, they are especially fond of melons.

Oleander Aphids

Also called Aphis nerii, these bright yellow aphids tend to infest milkweeds.

Green Peach Aphids

Myzus persicae is the most common aphid in the home garden. It can feed on over 500 host plants but they are often found on potatoes, cherry and plum trees, carnations, poppies, tulips, roses, and violets.

Woolly Apple Aphids

Eriosoma lanigerum is a species of aphids that largely feed on the bark and roots of apple trees. They leave a swollen gall on the stems where they have fed on it.

Rose Aphids

Macrosiphum rosae is a species of aphid commonly found in rose gardens. They infest rosebushes as their main host in spring and early summer, congregating on the tips of shoots and around new buds.

Aphid Damage in the Garden

Aphids suck on plant sap which they get from leaves, stems, buds, flowers, fruits, and/or roots of a plant. They also tend to prefer new growth and would cluster at the growth end of plants and attach themselves to soft green stems.

Apart from leaving foliage stunted, misshapen, and curled, aphids also secrete honeydew which can cause sooty mold and fungus. This causes branches and leaves to appear black. Plus, flowers and fruits may become distorted or deformed due to aphids’ feeding habits.

Aphids also act as a vector which means they can carry viruses from one plant to others.

How To Get Rid Of Aphids In The Garden

Spray with Cold Water

While aphids don’t get disturbed by rustling leaves, they can be dislodged from their hiding places with a quick spray of cold water.

Mild Dish Soap Spray

You can also use a mild solution of water mixed with a few drops of dish soap to eliminate aphids from your plants. Spray it on affected plants every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks.

Use Neem Oil

This is my go to. When using Neem Oil I only use 100% Cold-Pressed Neem Oil so that I know it’s not a mixture of 10% Neem Oil and 90% who know what else.

I use 4 TBSP per gallon of water with 1 TBSP dish soap mixed well in a sprayer.

Keep the liquid moving while spraying to make sure the oil & water stay mixed (that’s why you use the dish soap to help them mix).

Spray the tops and undersides of the leaves generously and repeat every 7-10 days as needed.

If it rains (even if there is no rain in the forecast – it seems to rain if I apply Neem Oil…) you can reapply after a heavy rain – no need if it’s a light rain.

Apply Diatomaceous Earth

This non-toxic and organic material is excellent for taking care of aphid infestations.

Diatomaceous earth or DE is made of the naturally occurring fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae that forms in freshwater. These remains are ground up into a soft, fine white powder that carry many different uses. It’s chemical free and completely safe to use around children and pets.

Note, however, that it can also kill off pollinators so avoid applying it to plants that are in bloom.

Companion Planting

You can protect your precious garden by using plants that repel aphids like catnip, garlic, and chives, too.

The scent of these plants can keep away pesky aphids by masking your more precious crops. Alternatively, you can also use trap plants such as mustard and nasturtium.

No doubt at some time in your gardening venture you will encounter these pests. I remember as a kid my grandmother would have me pick them off her rose bushes… lol.

But now you know how to identify them, the harm they cause, and how to prevent them, as well as treat your infested plants.

Have you had any issues with aphids? What did you do to get rid of them? Leave a comment below and let me know – I love that gardening is an experiment and a learning process no matter how long you’ve been at it.