- Worldwide distribution. Small (1-2mm) greenfly on backs of young leaves or tips of shoots. In tropics, females only: they give birth to living young. Populations increase rapidly. A major pest.
- Damage results from sucking sap, spreading viruses, moulds that grow on honeydew excreta, blackening leaves.
- Natural enemies: syrphids (hoverfly larvae), lacewing larvae, ladybird beetle adults and larvae, and parasitoid wasps. Note, ants take honeydew from the aphids, and in so doing protect them from natural enemies.
- Cultural control: check plants in nursery; plant away from crops with aphids; inspect crops regularly: remove infested shoots/leaves; weed, use reflective mulches.
- Chemical control: soap, white or horticultural oils; PDPs: derris, pyrethrum, or chilli; synthetic pyrethroids, but these will kill predators and parasitoids. Removing ants will allow natural enemies to control aphid populations. Use hot water or pyrethroids.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Melon aphid (038)
Melon or cotton aphid. There are many aphids attacking a wide range of crops; Aphis gossypii, described here, is common in Pacific island countries.
Aphis gossypii
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from Waterhouse DE (1998) Aphis gossypii. Biological control of Insects: Southeast Asian Prospects. ACIAR Monograph no. 51, 548pp. and Choate PM, et al. (2018) Melon aphid or cotton aphid. Featured Creatures. UF/IFAS, University of Florida. (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/aphid/melon_aphid.htm); and Melon aphid Aphis gossypii (2016) Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r116300711.html); Melon or cotton aphid Aphis gossypii (2013) Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability, University of Minnesota. (http://cues.cfans.umn.edu/old/inter/inmine/Aphidsmc.html). Photo 6 Graham Teakle. Canberra, Australia. Photo 8 Caroline Smith. University of Tasmania, Australia.
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat for the Pacific Community.