Pea aphid
Acyrthosiphon pisum
Overview:
Acyrthosiphon pisum, commonly known as the Pea Aphid, is a small sap-sucking insect belonging to the family Aphididae. As the name suggests, this aphid species is a significant pest of pea plants and various other legumes.
Detailed Appearance:
- Adult Pea Aphids are small, ranging from 2 to 4 millimeters in length.
- Their body color can vary from green to pink or reddish-brown.
- They have long, slender antennae and two cornicles (tube-like structures) on the posterior.
Life Cycle:
- The life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages.
- Female aphids give birth to live nymphs without the need for mating (parthenogenesis).
- Nymphs resemble smaller versions of the adults and go through several molts.
- Winged forms may develop when populations become crowded or conditions change.
Identification of Crop Infestation:
- Presence of clusters of small, soft-bodied aphids on the undersides of leaves.
- Feeding damage causes yellowing, distortion, and curling of leaves.
- Aphids excrete honeydew, leading to the growth of sooty mold on leaves.
Management Strategies:
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Biological Controls:
- Encourage natural enemies such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps.
- Conservation of natural predators helps regulate aphid populations.
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Cultural Controls:
- Practice good garden hygiene to reduce overwintering sites for aphids.
- Intercrop with plants that attract beneficial insects.
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Physical Controls:
- Use a strong stream of water to dislodge aphids from plants.
- Prune and remove heavily infested plant parts.
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Chemical Controls:
- Apply insecticides labeled for aphid control when populations exceed economic thresholds.
- Focus on the undersides of leaves where aphids often feed.
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Insecticidal Soaps and Oils:
- Use insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils to control aphids.
- These products are effective and have minimal impact on beneficial insects.
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Resistant Plant Varieties:
- Consider planting aphid-resistant varieties of peas when available.
- Resistant plants can help reduce the impact of aphid infestations.
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Ant Management:
- Control ant populations, as they may protect aphids from natural enemies.
- Ants "farm" aphids for honeydew, disrupting natural predator-prey relationships.










