Aphids

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Main aphids in Africa: Black bean aphid ([i]Aphis fabae[/i]), Cabbage aphid ([i]Brevycoryne brassicae/Myzus persicae[/i]), Groundnut aphid ([i]A.craccivora[/i]), Cotton aphid ([i]A.gossypii[/i]), Russian wheat aphid ([i]Diuraphis noxia[/i]), Cypress aphid ([i]Cinara cupressi[/i])

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Magnus Gammelgaard
Is this a Minor Pest?
Yes
Minor Pest Title

Aphids (Aphis spp.)

Minor Pest Description

Aphids are a major pest, causing leaves to curl and become unattractive to customers.

Aphids feed by sucking plant sap. Small aphid populations may be relatively harmless, but heavily infested plants usually have wrinkled leaves, stunted growth and deformed pods. Plants, in particular young plants, may dry out and die under heavy aphid attack. Heavy attack on older plants may cause crop loss by decreasing flower and seed production. Damage may also reduce seed viability.

Minor Pest What to do.
  • Conserve natural enemies. They are important in natural control of aphids. For more information on Natural enemies click here
  • Monitor regularly the crop.
  • Whenever necessary spray only affected plants (spot spraying).
  • Use biopesticides that are not harmful to natural enemies (for instance neem, ashes, soapy water). In Kenya, foliar sprays with neem products such as Neemroc® (1-3%) and Neemros® water extract (50 g/l) controlled the black bean aphid on French beans (Maundu, 1997). For more information on Natural pest control click here
Minor Pest Position
1
Minor Pest Firstcontent
142
Pest Type
insect
Other Crops
Apple trees, Cauliflower
Host Plants
African Nightshade (Revised)
Minor Pest secondContent
381
Host Plants