The aphid, together with mites, whiteflies and mealy bugs, is one of the most frequent pests on orange trees. They are small insects that are only a few millimetres long but can be detected with the naked eye. The variety of species provides colours as diverse as green, yellow, black or red. They feed on the juices of the plants, so they are usually found in the youngest shoots of the plantations where they absorb the sap and are recognisable by the wrinkling and deformation of their leaves.
Due to its reproductive characteristics, its expansion can vary from a few to hundreds or thousands in a very short period of time, so it is really important to have the pest under control to prevent it from hindering the normal development of the plant. At Clasol we prioritise this task, as the quality of our crops is a differentiating element in the market. Its consequences can delay the growth of the plant, transmit viruses, facilitate the appearance of fungi, attract other insects, etc.
There are other factors that favour the appearance of this type of insect such as rising temperatures, excessive irrigation or lack of nutrients.
To combat this, different types of methods can be used…..
Firstly, action must be taken against the vector, in this case it is the ant that transports and distributes the aphid throughout the plant, because the honeydew produced by the aphid serves as food for the ant.
For us it is really important to be respectful with the environment, we prioritise its conservation, therefore we use vegetable oils with a very low impact on the environment instead of conventional chemical insecticides, and despite being somewhat more effective they are much more harmful.
