| Life Cycle: | The adult potato aphid is a pear-shaped soft bodied insect 2-4 mm long. It can varying shades of light green, yellow or pink. It generally doesn't have wings, but winged aphids will arise when the population swells and competition for the host plants becomes excessive. Aphids are unique in the insect world in that they can bear live young. Most of the young are female as mating is not necessary. Toward the end of the season, male offspring become more prevalent. This is in preparation for mating so that fertilized eggs can be laid that will overwinter on perennial hosts. The eggs, which are shiny black, hatch in the spring and the nymphs migrate to the host plants. |
| Host: | The potato aphid will attack potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn and asparagus. |
| Bio Region: | Throughout North America. |
| Damage: | The potato aphid will retard the growth of plants and reduce yields by feeding on plant tissue. They do so by inserting their stylet through the leaf tissue into the phloem of the host. Crops are rarely destroyed by even significant infestations; however, they can weaken plants that then succumb to other insects or diseases. In fact, the spread of disease is generally a more serious reason for controlling the potato aphid than the actual feeding damage. Diseases include the Potato Leafroll Virus and Potato Virus Y. Moulds can also develop on the leaf surface where the aphid leaves a reguritated substance referred to as honeydew. The mould shades the leaf surface and further weakens the plant. |
| Management: | Monitoring and identification is an important step in implementing control strategies. Yellow sticky cards can be used to trap winged aphids but are not as reliable as visual inspections. Plants should be randomly checked underneath the leaves and around the stem. To aid in detection the plant should be shaken or gently struck over a white piece of paper. Row covers can be used to inhibit populations of aphids in general. |
| Controls: | Lacewings, aphid midges, and lady beetles all prey upon potato aphids. Aphid midges and lady beetles provide better control in cooler climates. Parasitoids are a very effective control measure but develop more slowly than the aphid population in cold environments. Insecticidal soaps are effective if used before infestation become severe. Beauvaria bassiana is a fungus that will adhere to the aphid's body and then grow into it. It is very effective in controlling aphids in general. |
