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Aphid
Signs of Infestation
Leaf curling, twisting, yellowing, wilting, and eventual drop.
Stunted plant growth and branch distortion.
Plant weakening, paleness, and death of terminal buds.
Secretion of honeydew by the insect, providing a suitable environment for the growth of black mold.
Presence of dense populations of adults and nymphs on the undersides of leaves and on new growth.
Transmission of viral diseases during feeding.
Sources of Spread and Transmission
Natural spread through insect flight.
Infested seedlings.
Plant residues.
Mechanical transmission via contaminated agricultural tools and equipment.
Prevention and Control Mechanism
Using pest-free seedlings free from all life stages of the insect.
Proper transfer of seedlings from nurseries to open fields or greenhouses.
Removing weeds and alternative host plants growing alongside the main host crop, as they serve as breeding sources and secondary hosts for the insect.
Hoeing and solarizing the soil, along with aerating it, while maintaining proper spacing and planting density, and adopting modified irrigation methods, since high soil moisture creates a favorable environment for insect reproduction.
Ensuring the disinfection of tools used in all agricultural operations.
Planting maize around greenhouses and fields to attract natural enemies of whiteflies, such as ladybird beetles, predatory bugs, aphid lions, predatory spiders, and others.
Applying balanced fertilization and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization to prevent excessive vegetative growth, as it serves as a favorable stimulus for aphid reproduction.
Using greenhouse covers that are clean, intact, and free of tears or openings.
Installing tightly sealed double doors in nurseries and greenhouses to minimize insect entry.
Using insect-proof nets on greenhouse entrances and ventilation openings (mesh size smaller than the insect body width) to prevent adult insect entry.
Applying agricultural mulch to suppress weed growth.
Using insect-proof netting at the entrances of simple tunnel greenhouses.
Cleaning greenhouses of crop residues from the previous corp.
Reducing humidity in lower plant parts by removing old and infested leaves.
Reducing humidity in lower plant parts by removing old and infested leaves.
Securing insect-proof netting tightly over all sides, roofs, and doors of greenhouses.
Regular field inspection and monitoring the initial appearance of infestation to ensure more effective control (early detection of infestation hotspots).
Using yellow sticky traps (strips and sheets).
Releasing natural enemies, including predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogens.
Spraying specialized biopesticides.