Peach: Aphids

Biology

The green peach aphid is a soft-bodied, green aphid up to 1⁄8″ in length. It is typically found on peach leaves in the spring, where it feeds on sap sucked from the plant tissues. Heavy infestations can result in curled leaves and death of forming flowers and fruit. Nectarine fruits in particular may be severely damaged by aphid feeding. Aphids produce honeydew, a sweet, sticky material which may attract ants or become covered with a growth of dark sooty mold. The green peach aphid moves to and feeds on vegetable crops and weeds during the summer. It is an important vector (carrier) of several virus diseases, including the Leafroll Virus of potato.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Control weeds.
• Encourage natural predators including ladybird beetles, lacewings, syrphid (hover) fly larvae, and parasitic wasps. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill beneficial insects.
• Hand-wipe or prune to control small, localized infestations when practical.
• Wash aphids from trees with a strong stream of water.
• Control honeydew-feeding ants, which may protect aphid colonies from predators.
• Provide proper nutrition. High levels of nitrogen encourage aphid reproduction. Switch to a slow-release or low-nitrogen fertilizer.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• Oils should only be applied during dormant or delayed dormant period.
• Other products can be used during the growing season following the label instructions.
• Soaps may require several applications.
• See label for minimum time from last application to harvest.
• Homeowners should not make foliar applications to trees over 10 ft. tall.
• Consult a commercial pesticide applicator for treatment of trees and shrubs over 10 ft. tall.

Approved Pesticides

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.

• Bug Buster-O [Organic]
  Active ingredient: pyrethrins [EPA registration number: 1021-1771-54705]
• NIMBIOSYS Neem Oil [Organic]
  Active ingredient: neem oil, cold pressed [EPA registration number: 84181-2]
• Safer Brand BioNEEM Multi-Purpose Insecticide and Repellent Concentrate [Organic]
  Active ingredient: azadirachtin [EPA registration number: 70051-6-42697]
• Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract II [Organic]
  Active ingredient: potassium salts of fatty acid [EPA registration number: 42697-59]
• Year-Round Spray Oil Kills Garden Insects-OMRI-[Organic]
  Active ingredient: mineral oil [EPA registration number: 6218-71]
• This list may not include all products registered for this use.

Additional Images