Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001735
11/12/99
Aphids on Ornamentals
Aphids (Vis. 1) are very common insects. They overwinter as
eggs which hatch in the spring. During the year, winged
forms will migrate to different plants. The insects injure
plants by sucking juices and infecting healthy plants with
diseases they pick up from unhealthy plants. A sticky
excrement called honeydew drips on and coats the leaves
and objects below the infestation. A black fungus called
sooty mold (Vis. 2) will grown on the deposited honeydew.
There are many types of aphids attacking a large variety of
host plants.
Natural controls include ladybugs, particularly the
larvae. The larvae do not resemble adult ladybugs. They
are black with blue spots and are elongated with pointed
abdomen.
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This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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