Week 13

Hello everyone! Lets talk about aphids this week;

Aphids are here and affecting the following plants: Easter Lily, Calibrachoa, Saliva, Chrysanthemum, Hydrangea, Ipomea, Bougainvillea and Mandevilla.

Tips on how to find aphids early:

1. Focus scouting to plant species that are most susceptible to aphids

2. Look closely at new growing points and under the leaves

3. Look for aphid "exoskeletons", the skins that the aphids will shed as they grow. These skins are white and often appear on top of leaves and around the area where you will find aphids.

4. Honeydew: sugary waste that aphids produce. Although we try to find aphid hotspots before much honeydew is present, this substance can be a dead giveaway of aphids present (appearing on the leaves as shiny, sticky droplets).

5. Maintain a routine scouting program, making sure to check back corners of rooms as this is often where we find hotspots.

6. Build up scouting experience! With more experience the aphids will become predictable and the scout can stay a step ahead by knowing where to look, what plants to check first and how to treat them effectively throughout the season.