Aphids on the drain: how to treat

Aphid species infecting plum trees are very dangerous pests that can kill plants. The small size of these insects is redeemed by the scale of the disasters they cause. Feeding on plant juices, aphids on the plum drain them. Because of what, the affected specimens begin to lag behind in growth. They also look sickly and weak.

The flowering period of such plants comes with a delay, or does not come at all. Fruits, even if they are formed, are small in size. May be deformed. And their taste suffers. The infestation of aphids on the plum is evidenced by deformed leaves covered with insects.

If you do not take action against pests, damage will not only be done to the foliage. This will lead to the death of the crop and, as a rule, the entire plant. Every gardener should be aware of preventive measures. And also about how to treat aphid plums and what to do if aphids eat plums.

Aphids on the drain: risk of infection

Aphids on the drain: photo

It is not only the plum that is at risk of aphid infestation. But also other stone fruit plants. Except for the cherry. However, it is plum trees that are especially often infested with aphids, which sometimes cover them entirely. The sweet trail it leaves attracts ants. It is also a breeding ground for various fungi and microorganisms.
Their appearance provokes the development of infections. Due to this, the stems, foliage and fruits of plum trees are deformed and blackened. The harvest from such trees turns out to be unpresentable in appearance and tasteless. And also often not at all fit for human consumption.

The gluttony of aphids is combined with a high level of fertility. After overwintering in plant debris and infected plants, aphid larvae wake up with the arrival of spring. And they begin to actively spread. The first, only hatched leaves, infect. A new generation of pests appears every 10-14 days. They are easily recognizable by the three dark stripes along the back in yellow, beige, pale pink or greenish.

Aphids feed on plant juices. If they are not enough, then it mutates. Namely, it grows wings and flies to neighboring trees. Thus provokes a massive invasion of plum orchards. Getting rid of such adaptable pests becomes even more difficult. During the season, aphids bring about 20 new generations of offspring. Therefore, it can capture large areas of plum plantings.

In this article, we will talk about how to deal with the defeat of aphids in plum trees. How to prevent the invasion of aphids. And what to do if it did happen.

Aphids on the drain: prevention

Aphids on the drain: pest photo

Preventive measures include the mandatory removal of plant residues such as peeled bark or broken branches. Because it is in them that aphid larvae most often winter. These potential sources of contamination are best not simply removed from the tree. But also take it out of the garden, or even better burn it. When cutting off branches, one should not forget about disinfection and protection of the cut points.

Wounds on the trunk and branches of the plum and the trunk itself are best covered with a layer of lime whitewash. Taking care of the soil on which the plum grows will reduce the risk of aphid infestation. First, it is necessary to maintain a sufficient level of moisture in the soil, conserving it through mulching. Secondly, the introduction of dressings is shown. For example, an aqueous solution based on potassium sulfate (3 tablespoons per bucket of water).

Timely weeding will also help keep the plum free from pest infestation. Choosing the right plant neighbors can provide protection against aphids. Therefore, it is recommended to plant next to a plum of herbs and herbs. For example, dill, coriander, cilantro, parsley. Their pleasant smell for humans is poorly tolerated by aphids. And also has a deterrent effect on the pest.

But the neighborhood with a linden or viburnum is extremely dangerous. Because these crops are attractive to aphids. They can serve as a source of infection. Aphids will migrate from these plants to the plum, spreading throughout the planting area.

As a preventive treatment, it is recommended to spray plum trees with an aqueous solution of diesel fuel. Even before the first buds appear. If aphid infestation does occur, a few pests can be dumped by a high-pressure water jet. And the leaves damaged by them must be immediately cut off and destroyed.

How to treat aphid plums?

The most effective against aphids are chemicals sold in specialized stores. They differ in the mechanism of their effect on pests:

• The drugs "Karbofos", "Fufan", "Fury", "Arrivo" infect pests through direct contact. They penetrate through the upper shells into the insect's body. Poison his internal organs. Which leads to his death. Copper-based mixtures are suitable for reprocessing plums at the end of the flowering period.
• Getting into the digestive system of aphids, "Confidor" or "BI-58 New" poison the insect. And lead him to almost instant death.
• The drug of systemic action, penetrating into the sap of the plant and poisoning the aphids, is "Aktara". This chemical is not washed off by rain. That provides a rather long period of its action.
• The most environmentally friendly and safe for humans, as well as beneficial insects, are preparations that include microorganisms. For example, Fitoverm and Akarin.
• During the period of plum fruiting, treatment with the drug "30 Plus" is possible. It envelops the fruits in a thin layer that does not allow the air and moisture necessary for insects to pass through. Not receiving the oxygen and water necessary for life, aphids quickly die.

Constant use of the same chemical helps build immunity in aphids. Therefore, it is necessary to alternate them from time to time. 3 weeks before harvest, any chemical treatments should be discontinued to prevent their penetration into the tissues of the fruit. Because this can lead to a loss of their taste. And also cause harm to people who eat them.

Chemical destruction of aphids during the plum blossom period is categorically contraindicated. Because it can harm pollinating insects. For example, bees and bumblebees.

How to save plums from aphids using folk methods

If you are interested in using less chemicals, gardeners recommend seeking help from nature itself. The natural enemies of this pest are ladybugs. Attracting these beneficial insects to the garden will help drive away the aphids. From the very beginning of the season until its end, spotted predators destroy the constantly breeding aphids.

This useful property of ladybugs has been known for a long time. And provides them with the respect and protection of gardeners everywhere. Aphids form the basis of food for these cute predators. They deliberately settle near the pest colonies in order to have constant access to a food source. The larvae of ladybirds are especially gluttonous. They can destroy entire colonies of pests as quickly as possible.

To attract beneficial predators to the garden, you need to plant calendula in the immediate vicinity of plum trees. And you can also provide ladybirds with a place for wintering so that they do not leave the garden during cold weather.As a shelter, you can use, as a rule, an ordinary wooden log with drilled holes. In them, insects will be able to wait out the winter. Birds can also significantly reduce pest populations. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the birdhouses in the garden.

How to save plums from aphids after plant damage?

Aphids on the drain: photo

To remove aphids of ants from the site of constant companions, it is, as a rule, enough to cover the tree trunks with burlap. Saturate it with grease or insect glue. In the absence of burlap, you can use corrugated cardboard. If there are too many ants and you cannot drive them out in the above way, you can use folk methods.

For example, you can pour boiling water over ant holes. And also sprinkle them with chopped ash or tomato herbs. Ants can't stand their smell. Toxic baits are more effective. However, their manufacture requires special care to avoid poisoning the gardener himself. So, you can mix boric acid in powder form with sweet viscous substances. For example, honey, syrup, jam, jam, or granulated sugar.

The resulting mixture should be placed in the places of the greatest concentration of ants. Some gardeners recommend sprinkling anthills or minks with regular millet or semolina. Baker's yeast has a detrimental effect on ants. Mix them with honey or sugar syrup. The mixture can be placed in small containers like bottle caps. And also apply it to the surface of the pieces of cardboard.

Finally, if traditional methods have proven ineffective, it remains to resort to using chemicals. Places of constant and maximum accumulation of ants can be shed with a solution based on such agents as "Muratsid" or "Anteater". Insecticidal pastes can be spread on small planks or pieces of cardboard. And place them near the ant's holes.

A fairly large number of ready-made traps can be found on sale. However, these ant control agents have a very short lifespan. And decompose in weeks. Thus, they have to be changed regularly to prevent a new invasion of insects. Spraying plums with infusions of plants with insecticidal properties is also effective. Aphids on a plum do not tolerate the smell of tobacco, garlic, yarrow, dandelion, green potatoes and tomatoes.

Aphids on the plum: recipes for insecticidal mixtures

• In a bucket of water with a volume of 7-10 liters, you need to pour 1 liter of cow's milk. Process the plum.
• A mixture of tobacco crumbs and ash (or hydrated lime) also helps repel aphids.
• Two times treatment with soapy water before and after flowering will help get rid of harmful insects. Does not harm the plum tree itself and people who eat its fruits. For the manufacture of this product, both household and green insecticide soap in liquid form is suitable.
• A glass of onion husks must be poured with a bucket of water. Leave on for 5 days. After that, the filtered infusion can be used to process the plum.
• A pound of chopped garlic cloves should be poured into 3 liters of water and left in a dark place for 5-6 days. Immediately before processing 60 g of the concentrate, dilute 10 liters of water and add 50 0 soap shavings to fix the solution on the leaves.
• An infusion based on greens of tomatoes, potatoes in combination with celandine is aged for 3 days and is used to process plum trees.
• An effective remedy for combating aphids is a 3-day infusion of 1 kg of nettle in 10 liters of water.
• The already mentioned laundry soap is used to prepare an emulsion: 1/4 bar of soap, 1/2 glass of kerosene and 10 liters of hot water.
• An infusion of horse sorrel is prepared quite quickly: it is enough to soak 300 g of its roots in 10 liters of boiling water for just 4 hours.
• At the end of the flowering period of plum from aphids, it can be treated with a solution of 50 g of urea per 10 liters of water.

Conclusion

Aphids on the drain: photo

Plum aphid control requires regular inspection of plum trees in order to identify pests as early as possible. Because it is much easier to get rid of new settlers than to hatch entire colonies that form within a few weeks. Also, a small number of aphids can be dealt with with the help of environmentally friendly folk remedies, while for a war against a massive invasion of pests, you will have to use toxic ready-made preparations. Their use can harm not only unwanted guests of the garden, but also a person.

It is also necessary to know about the most effective aphid protection for plums in order to minimize their use.