Includes
Bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Pest monitoring Check fields frequently after seedling emergence. If aphids become numerous increase frequency of sampling. Aphids often are concentrated in hot spots. Note the presence of any hot spots but avoid sampling only those areas. Also, 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 fields particularly closely during April and May.
Management-biological control
Many parasites and predators attack aphids. Early season aphids have many natural enemies that frequently bring them under control later in the year. Among the more common predators are lady beetles and their larvae, lacewing larvae, and syrphid fly larvae.
Monitor the proportion of aphid mummies relative to un-parasitized aphids and the numbers of predators such as lady beetles. If the proportion of mummies is increasing, or predators appear to be gaining control, and aphid populations are not yet damaging, avoid sprays that will disrupt these natural enemies. Most materials for aphid control are highly disruptive of natural enemy populations.
Management-cultural control
Destroy infested crops immediately after harvest to prevent aphid dispersal. Destroying weed hosts late in the year may help destroy overwintering populations. Aphid populations tend to be higher in crops that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen. Roguing diseased plants early may help slow the spread of aphid-vectored diseases.
Home gardeners can often get effective control by washing aphids from plants with a strong stream of water.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (sometimes as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
- capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Only registered in WA.
- carbaryl
- esfenvalerate
- imidacloprid
- insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage and stems. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- malathion
- plant essential oils (rosemary, etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyrethrins (often combined with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- acephate (numerous products) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not feed treated vines. Do not exceed 2 lb ai/a per year.
- Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ESO) at 0.25 to 1 quart/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- borate complex (Prev-Am) at 0.4% to 0.8% solution. Spray until coverage is complete. PHI not listed. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- dimethoate (numerous products) at 0.25 to 0.5 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 48 hr. Do not feed treated vines. Highly toxic to bees.
- esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per year. Do not feed or graze treated vines.
- flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 7 to 10.5 fl oz/a. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per year. Minimum of 10 days between successive applications.
- imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.375 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Soil application only. Do not exceed 0.375 lb ai/a per season. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat.
- insecticidal soap (M-Pede) at 1 to 2% solution. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr.
- lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 24 hr. Do not graze or feed to livestock. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a per year. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
- methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days to harvest and for feeding vines or hay. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 4.5 lb ai/a per year.
- naled (Dibrom 8) at 0.94 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 48 hr. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
- phorate (Thimet 20-G) at 0.0563 to 0.0875 lb ai/1,000 ft row at planting. Do not exceed 1.5 lb ai/a. PHI 60 days. REI 48 hr, or 72 hr if annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. Apply at planting. Do not graze or feed to livestock. Toxic to fish and wildlife.
- spirotetremat (Movento HL) at 2.5 fl oz/a. PHI 7 days. Retreatment interval 7 days. REI 24 hr
- sulfloxaflor (Transform WG) at 0.75 to 1.0 oz/a. Do not exceed 8.5 oz/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. If blooming vegetation is present 12 ft out from the downwind edge of the field, a 12 foot in-field down wind buffer must be observed.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang; Mustang Max) at 0.02 to 0.025 lb ai/a (Mustang Max) or 0.04 to 0.05 lb ai/a (Mustang). PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.15 lb ai/a (Mustang Max) or 0.3 lb ai/a (Mustang) per season. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat by ground application, 150 ft if applied by air.