1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Spinach-Aphid

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Image related to Spinach-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Adult on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Spinach-Aphid
Bean aphid
Aphis fabae Scopoli
Female adult immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Spinach-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Spinach-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Female adult immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes

Bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
Melon aphid (Aphis gossypii)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Pest monitoring Check plants frequently after transplant or seedling emergence. Aphids often are concentrated in "hot spots." Be sure to look for evidence of biological control; i.e., the presence of predators, parasites (aphid mummies), and disease. Aphid flights are most common during periods of moderate temperatures (60° to 80°F). Monitor plants particularly closely during April and May.

Management-cultural control

Controlling weeds late in the season may help reduce overwintering populations. Aphid populations tend to be higher in plants that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen.

Home gardeners can use row covers or wash aphids from plants with a strong stream of water.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • imidacloprid
  • insecticidal soap (often as a mix with spinosad)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint, etc.)-These have some efficacy against aphids. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.038 to 0.075 lb ai/a. REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 5 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.375 lb ai/a per season.
  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/a per season.
  • azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5)-PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. See label for rates. Acts slowly; apply early. Thorough coverage and repeat applications are necessary. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ESO) at 0.25 to 1 quart/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.07 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/a beta-cyfluthrin or 0.2 lb ai/a imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin/avermectin (Athena) at 0.05 to 0.12 lb ai/a. PHI 40 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin or 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin per year. Limit 2 treatments.
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.096 lb ai/a. PHI 40 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.24 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) as 0.8% solution. Apply to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/a per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/a foliar or 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/a soil. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per year.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a per year.
  • cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/a cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per year.
  • flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG) at 0.062 to 0.089 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.267 lb ai/a or three applications per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/a PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.16 to 0.38 lb ai/a soil and 0.047 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 21 days soil; 7 days foliar. Retreatment interval 5 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/a soil or 0.24 lb ai/a foliar per season.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.048 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/a per season.
  • insecticidal soap (M-Pede) at 1 to 2%. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion (Malathion 8) at 1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Limit 2 treatments per year. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • permethrin (Loveland Permethrin) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. Retreatment interval 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not graze or feed treated crop refuse to livestock. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • pymetrozine (Fulfill) at 0.086 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • pyrifluquinazon (PQZ Insecticide) at 0.035 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 6 treatments. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.21 lb ai/a per year. Apply by ground equipment.
  • spirotetramat (Movento) at 0.06 to 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/a per crop season.
  • sulfoxaflor (Closer SC) at 0.023 to 0.031 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per year.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/a soil application. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.257 lb ai/a applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.17 to 0.21 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per year.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season.