Chumasande MatiwaneIf your plants have distorted, yellowing, or curling leaves or their growth seems to be stunted, you may need to pay close attention to woolly aphids. Although their populations rarely cause too much harm to most plants, the distorted and curled leaves they cause and leave behind can certainly become unsightly. For this reason, many gardeners prefer to find effective ways to get rid of them.
What are woolly aphids?
These insects suck sap from any of your healthy plants and will leave a sticky residue behind. They can be tricky to get rid of because of that sticky, waxy coating that protects them from predators. Easy to notice by their waxy coating that protects their bodies and gives them a fuzzy or woolly appearance. If you have woolly aphids on your plants, you might want to get rid of them as soon as possible. Heavy infestations of these pests can cause severe damage to plants.
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Getting rid of woolly aphids
Woolly aphids are not the same as true aphids, but they are in the same family group. Getting rid of them is similar to how you get rid of aphids. If you have woolly aphids on your plants, there are effective ways to get rid of them.
Such as grabbing a water hose and blasting them with strong force. This helps you dislodge as many as you can, saving your plants. Pruning is another alternative you can use. Prune any heavily infested branches. Using insecticidal soaps or neem oil to get rid of eggs. Woolly aphids are attracted to stressed plants and search for host plants that provide shelter and food.
Maintain your plant’s health by keeping it well-watered and fertilised to prevent these pesky pests from spreading and making it less prone. Some beneficial insects, like ladybugs and lacewings, benefit from these pests by preying on them.
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