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Once a phloem vessel is punctured, the sap, which is under pressure, is forced into the aphid's food canal. Occasionally, aphids also ingest xylem sap, which is a more dilute diet than phloem sap as the concentrations of sugars and amino acids are 1% of those in the phloem.
Aphids excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, because the plant sap from which they feed contains excess carbohydrates relative to its low protein content. To satisfy their protein needs, they absorb large amounts of sap and excrete the excess carbohydrates. Honeydew is used as food by ants, honeybees, and many other insects.
An aphid infestation can ruin a garden. Learn what causes aphids and how to identify, kill, and control them naturally for healthy plants with no aphid holes.
A 2014 study in organic cropping systems suggests that non-chemical control using microbials and botanicals can reduce sub-soil pest populations in organic vegetable crops. [4] Soil treatments of Beauveria bassiana , in conjunction with azadirachtin, neem oil reduced aphid populations by 62% after two applications. [ 4 ]
Aphids are repelled by strongly aromatic plants such as lavender, marigolds, garlic and mint. Plant these among your more vulnerable plants. Using trap plants is a different approach.
The aphids feed on many varieties of produce, including cabbage, broccoli (especially), Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and many other members of the genus Brassica, [1] but do not feed on plants outside of the family Brassicaceae. The insects entirely avoid plants other than those of Brassicaceae; even though thousands may be eating broccoli ...
In parts of yard, overwintering bees and other beneficial insects live in dormant plant material. But aphids, beetles lurk in veggie plot.
In some populations, the beetles may undergo diapause if there are limited food resources to delay reproduction. [4] H. convergens eat soft-bodied insects, with aphids being the primary food resource. [2] Aphids are a known pest, so the H. convergens has been used as a method to control aphids by releasing the beetles to act as a predator for ...