Description

The Black Bean Aphid is one of the numerous species of aphids that live in our gardens.

It’s a small insect up to 2mm long, mainly black but that could have some white flecks on the upper surface of their bodies.

They live in dense colonies sucking sap from the host plants causing distortion of the shoots and affecting plant growth and production.

Info

Plants Affected

Broad Bean

Beans

Nasturtium

Carrots

Pea

Main Symptoms

Honeydew or sooty mould

Wilting

Dwarfing

Plant dead/dieback

Ants benefit from their colonies and protect them from natural predators like the ladybird larvae. They are also vectors for numerous plant viruses.

How to Prevent

Promote the habitat of natural predators such as ladybirds, earwigs, hoverflies, lacewings and praying mantis.

Use repellent plants such as mint, absinth, garlic, lemon balm, nettle, marigolds, coriander, etc.

Control ants as they normally attend and take care of aphids.

Avoid nitrogen fertilization.

Control Measures

Use parasites and natural predators such as ladybirds.

Plant-based insecticides, e.g. nettle slurry

Natural pyrethrum

Soap solutions

Neem oil

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