Includes
Pemphigus betae
Pemphigus populivenae
Pest description and crop damage Pinhead-sized, pale white-yellow aphid that colonizes taproot. Aphids produce waxy white secretions that superficially resemble mold on beets.
Scouting and thresholds No formal economic thresholds exist for root aphid insecticide treatment decisions. Root aphids typically infest fields during late summer, which limits efficacy of at-plant insecticides.
Management-cultural control
Root aphids can be managed by planting approved resistant varieties. Maintaining a proper irrigation schedule can help plants to resist attack from root aphids; aphids are favored by drier soils and drought-stressed plants.
Management-biological control
Root aphids are attacked by a predatory fly that generally keeps infestations in check. We do not yet know enough about arthropod natural enemies to suggest practical ways of manipulating and enhancing their effects other than avoiding any unnecessary insecticide applications.
Management-chemical control
Chemical control is challenging given the cryptic habits of these soil insects. Some insecticides are registered for at-plant (Table 1) or post-emergence (Table 2) application. At-plant insecticide efficacy may be diminished by the time root aphids are present late season.
Note: For more information, see University of Idaho publication CIS 1176, Sugar Beet Root Aphids: Identification, Biology, & Management, https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/CIS/CIS1176.pdf.