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Every experienced gardener knows that if aphids appear on a cherry tree, then urgent measures must be taken to destroy it. Otherwise, this small pest can cause serious damage to the tree, which will lead to a significant reduction in yield. After all, aphids are characterized by increased fertility and form numerous colonies in a short time. And in the absence of control measures, it is capable of moving to neighboring crops.
Aphids belong to the order Homoptera
Description and types of aphids
There are more than 5 thousand species of aphids in nature. But only some of them attack cherries. They are similar in many ways. But they also have certain differences.
Gall aphids on cherries
This pest is characterized by an ovoid body shape, the length of which reaches 2 mm. The color of gall aphids is greenish-yellow. There are small sparse hairs on her body.Peak pest activity is June. During the season it forms 3-20 generations. Favorable conditions for development are elevated air temperatures.
When affected, swellings called galls appear on the leaves of the cherry tree, which is why this species got its name. They appear when the tree tries to repair damaged tissue.
Aphids belong to the order Homoptera
Green aphids on cherries
This is a small insect with an oval body. Characterized by a dark green color. Aphids overwinter in the egg stage. Adults die when the temperature drops. Pest colonies are localized at the tops of young branches. And black eggs are laid at the base of buds and shoots. In the second generation, female settlers appear. Their function is to fly to neighboring crops for the purpose of reproduction.
Green aphids are activated by high humidity and high temperatures. Up to 19 generations of the pest can appear during a season.
Each female green aphid lays no more than five eggs at a time
Black aphids on cherries
The difference between this species is its black color. The pest has an ovoid body, ranging in size from 0.5 to 2 mm. Females are wingless and winged. The first ones appear at the beginning of the season from the overwintering clutch of eggs. The second - in the middle of summer. You can find a colony of black aphids on the back of cherry leaves.
Black aphids attack all stone fruits in the garden
Where do aphids come from on cherries?
Winged females, which appear in late June and early July, are responsible for the spread of the pest. Their function is to lay eggs on trees. Of these, wingless females subsequently emerge that are capable of reproducing without fertilization. They are the ones responsible for preserving the species.In the fall, all adult individuals and larvae of aphids die, and only the eggs of the pest remain over the winter. With the arrival of spring, the aphid life cycle resumes.
Ants also contribute to the spread of aphids in the garden. Because they feed on the product of its vital activity - copper dew. In winter, ants transfer aphid eggs to an anthill for preservation, and with the arrival of spring, they lift them onto cherry tree branches to ensure adequate nutrition for the larvae after they are born.
What does aphid look like on cherries?
It is quite difficult to identify a lesion at the initial stage. But as the colony grows, signs of aphids on the cherry become obvious.
Among them:
- leaf deformation;
- sticky coating on shoots, plates;
- drying out of young branches;
- shedding of the ovary;
- premature leaf fall;
- slow development of cherries;
- reduced fruit size.
The reason for a thorough inspection of the trees in the garden should be ants scurrying everywhere.
What harm does
Aphids feed on the cell sap of leaves and young shoots of cherry trees. This leads to disruption of metabolic processes in tree tissue, which negatively affects its development. As a result, the resistance of cherries to unfavorable external factors decreases. This is especially dangerous for young seedlings, since low immunity leads to their death in winter.
Aphids are carriers of various diseases. The most common of them is sooty fungus. It is characterized by a thick black coating on the surface of the leaves. When it appears, the process of photosynthesis is disrupted. As a result, cherries experience a deficiency of nutritional components.Also, sooty fungus is a favorable environment for the development of bacteria, viruses, and infections.
When aphids are infested, the taste of cherry fruits decreases
Measures to combat aphids on cherries
If a cherry tree is attacked by small black or green aphids, you need to immediately begin fighting it. To do this, you can use chemical and biological preparations, folk remedies, and also use a mechanical method of destruction. The best results can be achieved with integrated pest control. This allows not only to destroy it, but also to preserve the quality of the crop.
Chemical preparations for aphids on cherries
When mass spread of aphids requires the use of chemical agents characterized by rapid action. They can be used to treat cherries against aphids before and after flowering, as well as during fruit set. Contact and systemic insecticides are suitable for this, but the latter are preferable, since the active component penetrates the vascular system of the tree, which provides long-term protection.
The most effective of them:
- Actellik. An organophosphate preparation, its active component is pirimophos-methyl in a concentration of 500 g per 1 liter. The drug has an insecticidal and acaricidal, as well as fumigation effect. Visible results are visible within two hours after treatment. To spray cherries, you need to dilute 7 ml of the product in 10 liters of water.
Actellik has a detrimental effect not only on aphids, but also on mites
- Aktara. Broad-spectrum systemic insecticide. Contains the active ingredient – thiamethoxam. It quickly penetrates the leaves and spreads throughout the tree. The protective effect lasts for 3-4 weeks.To spray cherries against aphids in May and throughout the growing season, you need to dissolve 1.4 g of the drug in 10 liters of water.
Aktara is not washed off by rain two hours after spraying
- Spark. Double effect. The drug contains two active components: cypermethrin and permethrin. It also contains potassium fertilizer and anti-stress additives. All this together helps the cherry tree to quickly recover from the damage caused. To treat young or adult cherries against aphids, you need to dissolve an insecticide tablet in 1 liter of warm water, and then bring the volume of liquid to the required volume.
Spark is not a phytotoxic agent
Biological products against aphids on cherries
You can also spray cherries against aphids in June and throughout the growing season with biological preparations. Their peculiarity is that they are of natural origin and have a gentle effect. Also, biological products are characterized by a short waiting period, which makes it possible to use them against aphids even during the ovary and ripening of fruits.
Effective biological products against aphids include:
- Aktofit;
Aktofit
- Guapsin;
Guapsin protects against diseases and pests
- Fitoverm.
Fitoverm is characterized by a slow action
How to get rid of aphids on cherries using folk remedies
You can save cherries from aphids with a small number of pests using folk remedies. They are also an excellent way to prevent infection.But it should be understood that these products have a repellent, not destructive, effect on the pest. Such treatment of cherries against aphids is justified during the fruiting period, when it is impossible to use insecticides.
Effective folk remedies for aphids:
- Wood ash. To prepare the working solution, you need to sift two glasses of this component. Then pour 10 liters of water into it and boil for half an hour. After cooling, strain. Before use, rub 50 g of laundry soap and add to the solution, mix, and then spray the cherries.
- Garlic. Chop the greens of a young spicy vegetable or chop ten cloves. Pour the resulting mixture into 5 liters of water, add 50 ml of liquid soap, and mix. Leave the solution for three hours. And then strain and use as intended.
- Onion peel. Pour 200 g of the component into 5 liters of hot water. Leave the mixture for ten hours, strain. Spray the shoots, leaves and trunk of the tree. Repeat the procedure every ten days.
- Tobacco. Grind 200 g of dry leaves of the plant. Pour 1 liter of warm water over them, stir and leave for five hours. After time has passed, the product must be filtered. And before use it should be diluted with water 1 to 3.
Mechanical method
This method of control involves destroying anthills in the garden. They should be leveled and filled with water. It is also necessary to use catch belts. Traps should be installed on the cherry trunk in early spring at a height of at least 0.5 meters. Such a barrier helps block the path of ants, which contribute to the spread of aphids.
Experienced gardeners also recommend washing off the pest colony with a stream of water. The procedure should be carried out early in the morning so that the drops have time to dry.
How to protect cherries from aphids
There are a number of measures that help protect cherries from aphid invasion. But their effectiveness directly depends on the regularity of their implementation.
Basic preventive measures:
- timely removal of root shoots and weeds;
- regular feeding to strengthen the immune system;
- planting marigolds, onions, garlic, lavender nearby;
- hanging feeders on branches to attract birds;
- collecting and burning fallen leaves.
Varieties resistant to aphids
You can reduce the likelihood of cherry being affected by aphids if you give preference to varieties with increased resistance. Such species have high immunity and are able to resist pest invasion.
These include the following types of cherries:
- Fatezh;
Fatezh is a medium-ripening variety
- Gift to Stepanov;
Stepanov’s gift is distinguished by good bone separation
- And the way;
Iput is characterized by large-fruited and early ripening
- Bryansk pink;
Bryansk pink is resistant to cracking of berries
- Tyutchevka.
Tyutchevka has increased winter hardiness of one-year growth
Conclusion
Aphids can appear on cherries at any time. In order not to miss the moment, it is necessary to regularly inspect the tree and react when the first alarming symptoms appear. This will prevent mass reproduction of the pest and preserve the harvest. Otherwise, the aphids will spread throughout the garden.
