How to Get Rid of Root Aphids

There are different kinds of aphids, and while some live above the soil, there are some below. It can be difficult to get rid of root aphids because you cannot see them but they can cause mayhem below ground. So how do you get rid of root aphids?

You can get rid of root aphids through various methods such as weed control and even by watering plants thoroughly.

When it comes to rood aphids, there are, firstly, a number of preventative methods that you should be implementing. For example, you can be consistent with garden routines like weed control and watering the plants evenly.

You can also regularly do maintenance on your soil by digging it over and turning it. This, alone, should be enough to prevent root aphids. While it’s rare for root aphids to transfer from one garden to another, they can spread from one plant to another. 

What Will Kill Root Aphids

Root aphids can cause your plants to look bad and damage them. Hence, for a garden with healthy and lively plants, you need to kill the root aphids as soon as possible.

While preventative measures are great for root aphids, you will have to resort to other methods if you are already dealing with an infestation. Below are a few options for killing root aphids successfully:

Nematodes

A way to kill root aphids that have infested your garden is to use beneficial nematodes. If you are unfamiliar with what nematodes are, they are parasitic worms that can eat root aphids.

You can get beneficial nematodes from garden centres and online stores. The worms will eat the root aphids in a few days. 

Nematodes are so small that they often come as what appears to be a spray. You should spray the soil where the infested plant is until the soil is wet. Then, you can continue to reapply the nematodes, and they will eventually take care of your aphid problem. 

Pyrethrum

Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide made from chrysanthemums. This insecticide is a good choice for killing root aphids because it will not harm plants in your garden, unlike most other strong chemicals.

While the insecticide is toxic to root aphids and other pests, it is completely safe to use around children and pets. 

You can use this insecticide by watering the plant and letting it soak into the soil within 12 hours. The pyrethrum will begin to kill the root aphids. You can reapply this insecticide, especially during the wetter months, to avoid any infestations. 

Citric Acid 

You can use citric acid to kill any root aphids you have. In addition to killing root aphids, you can also prevent any infestations if you use citric acid. You can get a citric acid solution and apply it near the soil of the plant. You may choose to reapply for this solution any time you wish. 

Avid

For people who do not know, Avid is an insecticide with abamectin that kills root aphids and other kinds of pests like mites. Abamectin works to paralyze any insect that encounters it. The insect, upon becoming paralyzed, will stop eating and die. 

If you are looking for a fast solution to kill root aphids, Avid is a good choice. Avid will work effectively by soaking into the plant tissue and ensuring that no root aphids come back.

However, you have to be careful when using Avid because not all plants can handle it and you may find you do more harm than good!

What Do Root Aphids Look Like?

A root aphid infestation can be dangerous because they are tiny and difficult to track. Many people confuse root aphids for soil mites. However, both pests are quite different from each other. Therefore, it is important to identify root aphids so you can take the necessary actions against them. 

Root aphids do look similar to other insects, especially soil mites. However, root aphids have rear abdomens, and soil mites do not. In addition, root aphids such on the roots and are found near them. 

While soil mites are not dangerous and you do not need to worry about them, this is not the case for root aphids. Root aphids can cause real damage to plants, and they multiply rapidly, so it is not easy to get rid of them. 

How Can Root Aphids Damage Gardens?

By monitoring your plants and paying attention to them, you can determine if you have root aphids and what damage they have done.

Root aphid damage can look like withered leaves, curling, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth. If you have a fruit plant, the fruits will be small as the tree has not received enough nutrition because most of it has been sucked away by root aphids. 

If root aphids have infested your plant, it will be more vulnerable to diseases.

In most cases, gardeners choose to provide additional nutrients to the plants that have been impacted by root aphids, such as magnesium.

The other issue is that root aphids can spread from one plant to another, which makes them dangerous. The aphids also reproduce quickly and are accompanied by ants usually, who spread their eggs around the garden, making it difficult to wipe them completely. 

Summary 

Root aphids are small insects that are found in gardens. There are many kinds of aphids, and root aphids are one of them which prefer to stay below the soil.

It can be quite a task to get rid of root aphids because they are below the soil and spread rapidly from one plant to another. 

You can take preventative measures for root aphids, such as weed control and keeping your soil and gardening tools clean.

However, there are other ways you can kill root aphids which is through chemicals. Moreover, you can also use beneficial nematodes by spraying them in the soil and letting them eat the root aphids.

Root aphids have a rear abdomen and are found close to the roots instead of soil mites. Therefore, it is important to learn to recognize root aphids so you can take the necessary actions against them.