🌱 *Know ur plants and trees*
Botanical name: *Aphidoidea.*
In continuation of our tips on pest identification, today let us explore and understand *Aphids*. There r around 5000 soft bodied insect varieties worldwide and mostly found in temperate climates though some varieties r found in our tropical climates.
They come in various colours ie., White, Orange, Green, Red, Black and even pinkish colours. They attack under the leaves by sucking the sap out of the plants leaving it devoid of nutrition thereby dying eventually if not promptly attended to. Just like mealy bugs, they excrete honey dew, a sweet tasting fluid which attracts the ants. The ants and the aphids r carriers of various viral diseases and fungus thereby aggravating the problem for the plant killing it. Aphid attacks can be identified by leaf shrivelling, twisted and curled leaves, leaf yellowing, stunted or dead shoots and poor plant growth, etc.
As Aphids r attracted to yellow colour, yellow sticky tapes r put out in fields and orchards to attract and stick them to it. Even bowls painted yellow from inside and salt water in it can attract the pests to it.
Besides above, all control measures mentioned in mealy bug control can be effectively used here like jet water spray, neem spray, etc. Preventive routine measures r best to keep aphids away by spraying gomutra solution, neem solution, etc.

🙏 *Thank You*🙏