Bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
Melon aphid (Aphid gossypii)
Pest description and crop damage Bean aphids are black and colonize foliage. Green peach aphids are yellowish pink to pale green with a large, distinct blotch on top of the abdomen. Melon aphids are small and yellowish to dull green; pale forms have dark mottlings. Aphids can make several generations in a single year and may transmit viral diseases. They will typically feed on newer growth, turning leaves yellow and causing spinach to appear water stressed.
Management-chemical control
- azadirachtin (AzaGuard) at 10 to 16 fl oz/A (0.021 to 0.035 lb ai/A). For use on crops grown in a greenhouse for transplants, apply at 10 to 16 fl oz/A (0.031 to 0.049 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Begin applications at first sign of infestation. Multiple applications and thorough coverage are necessary for effective control. Apply every 7 to 10 days as needed. This botanical pesticide acts slowly. Spray early, well before harvest, and check for effect. Some formulations of azadirachtin are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pymetrozine (Fulfill) at 2.75 oz/A (0.086 lb ai/A) when aphids first appear. Do not apply more than 5.5 oz/A (0.172 lb ai/A) per crop per year. Allow a minimum of 7 days between applications. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Use a minimum of 5 gal water/A when applied by air and a minimum of 10 gal water/A when applied by ground. Pollinator protection: when crops or weeds are in bloom, apply only when bees are not foraging (between 6 pm and 7 am). Washington only. SLN WA-190003 for Adama Fulfill products (expires 12/31/2024)
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