How to deal with aphids on eggplant?

What aphid attacks eggplant

As with any pest, it is important to determine what kind of aphid has settled in your greenhouse in order to choose the right means for the fight and tactics for carrying out special procedures. Of course, any species can settle on eggplants, but melon (cotton) aphids and green peach aphids often stay in greenhouses.

Invasion of the green peach aphid usually occurs at the very beginning of the season. Insects are light green in color, with a pair of wings, as well as processes on the back of the abdomen. Depending on the nutrition of the aphids, the pigmentation of their body changes, acquiring pink, dark green, yellow shades.

The melon aphid prefers high air temperatures and actively manifests its presence closer to the middle of summer. The color of this aphid species ranges from light yellow to black-green. The darker the color of the aphid, the larger the individual. Also, the color indicates the type of activity of the insect: so light (yellow-green) individuals are small, develop very slowly, do not bear offspring, practically not dangerous for eggplant; dark green and black individuals develop in the shortest possible time, actively multiply and destroy all plants (and not one bush) in just a couple of days.

Aphid harm

Aphid infestation in the greenhouse causes significant harm to all plants, since they parasitize not only on eggplants. Do not underestimate the danger of these insects only because of the small size of their body, the main strength of aphids is in the number of individuals in the colony.

Aphids fix and nest on all parts of the plant. Nutrition occurs by piercing the upper layers of the leaf skins and then sucking out the juices. This leads to an acute lack of nutritional resources in eggplant, as well as to the rapid necrosis of leaf or stem tissue. In the process of vital activity, the aphid covers the eggplant with crystalline secretions similar to sugar syrup - honeydew. This leads to the development of a sooty fungus. In addition, aphids release many toxins that negatively affect the life of the plant.

Fruits that form on aphid-infected eggplants are small in size, with a deformed shape, bitter and practically unsuitable for human consumption.

Video "How to deal with aphids?"

Experienced gardeners tell about proven methods of getting rid of aphids on plants.

Ways to fight

It is imperative to fight aphids, because, having destroyed the plants of this season, it will hide until the next and repeat the destructive raid. There are several ways to get rid of aphids, but alone, their effectiveness is extremely low. The fight should be approached comprehensively.

Chemicals

The use of pesticides for insect control must be fully understood when they can be used and when not. Even if you know that the drug will definitely work, it cannot be applied to a plant that blooms or (even more so!) Bears fruit.

If you noticed hordes of aphids in time, then feel free to start fighting it with the help of such drugs as "Aktara", "Karbofos", "Decis Profi", "Actellik". Give preference to rapidly degrading insecticides that do not linger or accumulate in the plant. Each drug has its own mixing scheme, so carefully read the instructions before use. Also, make sure that your skin and respiratory tract are protected - pesticides are dangerous for human skin and mucous tissues. Spraying eggplant should be done in a well-ventilated area, early in the morning in dry weather.

Folk remedies

You can get rid of aphids with folk remedies when the eggplant has already begun to bloom or bear fruit. All the materials at hand will be used - from tops and mowed grass to tobacco ash.

Recipe 1: in a large bucket with a volume of at least 10 liters, mix the tops of potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, celandine (in a 1: 1 ratio), add 400 g of wood ash and 1 glass of liquid soap (or grated laundry soap). Mix the resulting mixture well, set aside in a dark, warm place for 3 days. Stir the mixture from time to time. Strain the mixture before spraying; you can apply it once a week.

Recipe 2: In a ten-liter bucket, mix 50 g of tobacco ash, 50 g of chopped chili peppers, cover the ingredients with warm water. Such a solution should be infused for 24-30 hours. Then add 150-200 g of wood ash, 3 tbsp. spoons of soap, mix well and strain. You can spray eggplants with this solution every 10 days.

Recipe 3: chop the stems and leaves of bitter wormwood and tansy, you will need 1 kg of raw materials from each plant. Mix them, pour 1-2 liters of water and boil for 10-15 minutes. The resulting broth, after it has cooled, must be filtered and diluted to 10 liters. Add 5-6 tbsp before use. spoons of liquid soap.

Recipe 4: dried yarrow (800-900 g) is crushed and then soaked in boiling water (1-2 l) for 2 days. Before spraying, the infusion is diluted to 10 liters, liquid soap is added.

Other insects and plants

Plants and insects can help get rid of aphids, even in a greenhouse. When planting eggplants, make sure that marigolds, coriander, onions, garlic, mint, fennel, basil or lavender grow next to them. The volatile aromas of these plants scare away insects, preventing them from taking root. You can plant them in small islands between eggplants or surround them with a kind of living fence. This method is suitable for both prevention and control.

Another way is to lure insects that hunt and feed on aphids: hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, earwigs, ground beetles, predatory bugs and ticks. Of course, this method carries certain risks, since saving the eggplant you can destroy other plants. But with full control, everything will go smoothly. To lure most of the listed insects, plant lavender, dill, garlic, carrots on the beds adjacent to the eggplant. For example, hoverflies are very fond of daisies, the pollen of which they feed on. The favorite delicacy of ground beetles is potatoes, tomatoes, peppers. Laceworms prefer shady thickets of ferns. Earwigs will flock from all over the area onto sawdust when placed in the garden. Remember that the same ladybugs (their larvae) can be purchased at garden stores.

Do not despair at the invasion of this insect, confident actions and following the simplest instructions will surely save your eggplants.

Aphid Remedies Video

Ways to solve problems with aphids on eggplant are described in this video.