Aphids appeared on peppers in a greenhouse: what to do and how to defeat the pest quickly and effectively

Aphids are a dangerous, almost invisible pest. Especially in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It can very quickly fill an entire area and destroy crops. Therefore, it is very important to be able to recognize the presence of insects at the very beginning of their spread and know what to do to remove them from your area. We will analyze existing methods of protection against aphids and preventive measures for their appearance.

Signs of pepper damage in a greenhouse by aphids

It is difficult to detect the insect itself, since the aphid does not exceed 5 mm in size and at the same time has a greenish-transparent color. Thanks to this, it perfectly camouflages itself under the green parts of the plantings. There are also darker varieties - from brown to black.

There are a number of signs by which their presence can be determined:

1. Stopping the growth of seedlings.
2. Curled, yellowed or blackened leaves.
3. Termination of ovary.
4. Fruit deformation.
5. General weakening of the entire plant.

If you start checking all the plantings, then by turning over the leaf plate, you can find a cluster of aphids in the form of small moving greenish or black dots.

Advice. Even if you have the slightest suspicion of pests in the garden, you should immediately inspect all the plants. This will allow control to begin at an early stage with less crop loss.

Damage caused

Aphids feed on plant sap. Gnawing through the pulp, it sucks out the liquid with all the useful substances necessary for normal growth and vegetable development. Because of this, the plant gradually fades.

But this is not the only problem. As insects live, they secrete a special liquid - honeydew. It becomes a favorable environment for the development of sooty fungus on the plant, which makes the life of pepper doubly difficult.

Important! In greenhouse conditions, aphids undergo an incomplete, accelerated development cycle. Females remain wingless. This significantly speeds up the process of reproduction and spread of insects.

Rules for processing pepper in a greenhouse

Before you start figuring out how to fight aphids in a greenhouse, it’s worth understanding how they get there. Aphids are carried by soil, gardening tools, planting material or shoes. Therefore, it is important to regularly disinfect all of the above.

Processing Features

In the greenhouse, precautions are especially important: gloves, a respirator, closed shoes and clothing. It is better to carry out processing on a dry, but not hot day. High humidity can cause drugs to wash off from plants.

Biological methods of protection in a greenhouse are very effective. In a closed space, introduced insect predators manifest themselves most effectively.

Chemicals for aphids

Such methods should be resorted to only when the spread of pests is very strong and folk or biological remedies are ineffective. Chemicals are the most effective, but also the most harmful to humans and the plant itself.

Important! Before using any chemical, you must carefully read the instructions and follow them strictly, otherwise you can harm the plantings even more.

The most popular drugs:

1. "Fufanon" effective against most pests. The solution is made from 1 ampoule of the substance and a liter of water.
2. "Aktara" intended for processing at an early stage of the growing season. Forces aphids to refuse food, which is why the insects die within a day.
3. "Karbofos" - a potent drug. It is prepared by dissolving a tablespoon of the substance in 10 liters of water.
4. "Intavir" has an effect on many garden pests. 1 tablet dissolves in a bucket of water.
5. "Aktellik" – a drug with an intestinal contact spectrum of action. 1 ampoule is designed for 10 sq. m area. Diluted in two liters of water.

Reference. Aphids quickly get used to certain chemicals and develop immunity to them. Therefore, if you made any mistakes during processing and were unable to get rid of all the individuals, it is better to change the product.

Biological methods of control

The biological method consists of mechanical removal pests. To do this, they use insect predators, birds, or catch individuals themselves.

To lure birds to your site, you will need to place edible bait for them. Common tits and sparrows do an excellent job of killing aphids.

Insect predators include ladybugs, some wasps, hover flies and lacewings.

There are also a number of drugs that are sold in specialized stores. They infect pests rather than kill them outright like chemicals. Biological products do not have a negative effect on plants. The active components in them are waste products of fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.

Most popular:

• "Trichopolus";
• "Fitoverm";
• "Jaguar";
• "Aktofit";
• "Entobacterin";
• "Arrow".

Folk remedies

If the pest population in the greenhouse is small, it is best to start the fight by using traditional methods.

Here are a few proven methods:

1. Plant onions and onions around the perimeter of the greenhouse outside garlic. Their smell repels aphids. You can stick garlic heads into the soil along the path inside.
2. Dilute 2 cups of ash and 100 grams of soap solution in a bucket of water. Mix everything, strain and spray the peppers with the solution.
3. Pour 500 g of spruce needles into 2 liters of water and leave for a week. Before use, dilute 40 ml of infusion with a liter of water.
4. 1 tbsp. l. dilute soda and 40 g of laundry soap in 1 liter of water. Treat the plants immediately after preparing the composition.
5. Brew 30 grams of mustard powder with 0.5 liters of water. Leave for 3 days. Before use, add enough water so that the total volume is 10 liters.
6. 2 tbsp. l. dissolve ammonia in 10 liters of water with a small amount of soap solution. This solution has a strong effect on aphids, causing convulsions, burns of the mucous membrane and rapid death.
7. A solution of ammonia in the same proportion as ammonia is also very effective.

In addition to the listed substances, vodka, vinegar, celandine, tobacco, Birch tar, milk and iodine, boric acid and Coca-Cola.

Reference. Laundry soap is used to improve the adhesion of the substance to the plant. It can be added to all solutions.

Preventive measures

To avoid the appearance of aphids in your beds, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. The ideal microclimate in a greenhouse for peppers is 85% humidity and air temperature 25 degrees.
2. Regular ventilation.
3. Constant feeding.
4. Fumigation of a greenhouse with warm sulfur gas before planting plants.
5. Disinfection of the greenhouse frame with bleach or potassium permanganate solution.
6. Regular weed removal.
7. Purchase planting material only from trusted manufacturers.

Reference. Plants that receive proper care have good immunity and, therefore, are more resistant to pests and various diseases.

Conclusion

Aphids on peppers in a greenhouse can be a gardener's nightmare. Especially if the pest population has already grown significantly. Modern drugs are effective, but some of them can harm the fruits or the owner of the garden. Therefore, prevention is considered an important point in protecting peppers and any other fruit crops from aphids.

By taking care of your plantings and creating ideal conditions for them to grow, you will reduce the risk of aphids appearing on them. And the plants will thank you a little later with a bountiful harvest.