Of the over four thousand species of aphid known to exist, around 250 of those are considered harmful to crops & trees.  Also known as green flies or plant lice, aphids are among the most prominent and successful garden & tree pests worldwide.  These tiny insects pierce the stems of plants – preferring tender new growth to established greenery – in order to suck out the nutrient-rich sap, thus depriving the plant of the fuel that it needs to thrive.  Aphids also frequently carry viruses which infect a host plant as the insect feeds.  Such viruses are often lethal to citrus fruit bearing trees, many ficus species, pinwheel gardenia, & many more of our plants here in Hawaii.  Furthermore, the honeydew secreted by aphids as they feed creates a favorable environment for sooty molds ( Black soot Fungus) which spread quickly to coat the leaves of a plant, depriving it of sunlight.

While an aphid infestation may start out slow, aphids reproduce quickly and a colony of these pests can easily destroy an entire tree if left untreated.  Fortunately, there are many ways to keep aphids in check using all natural and organic means that won’t compromise the health of your garden or your family.