BeneficialGreen peach aphid
Hoverflies for green peach aphid
Syrphidae · wild predator (larvae)
Against green peach aphid
Each aphid-eating larva gets through roughly 100–400 aphids before it pupates, and the females usually lay single eggs among colonies, so the larvae hatch where the food is. Like most aphid predators they arrive after the aphids, not before, so expect a lag. In California organic lettuce, syrphid larvae were the main reason aphid-infested romaine was clean by harvest. Flowers with easily reached pollen and nectar near the crop keep the adults fed and laying.
RateWild — attract adults with open flowers
TimingLarvae build up once aphids are numerous; egg to adult takes 2–4 weeks
macro · hoverflies on green peach aphid
The pestGreen peach aphidMyzus persicaeYellowed, curled young leaves, honeydew, spreads virusesFull pest profile →Before you act
The adults are the striped, hovering flies on open flowers; the larvae are legless, slug-like maggots that eat aphids inside the colony. How to recognise it, what it is confused with and how to keep it around are on the full Hoverflies profile.
Other controls for green peach aphid
- Aphidius colemaniParasitoid wasp · 0.25–4 /m² per release, at least three releases
- Aphidoletes aphidimyzaPredatory midge · 1–10 /m² per release, weekly
- Chrysoperla carneaGreen lacewing larvae · 2–20 /m² per release, weekly
- LadybugsWild predator · Nothing to release — feed and shelter the ones already there
- Aphelinus abdominalisParasitoid wasp · 0.25–4 /m² per release, repeated
- Chrysoperla rufilabrisGreen lacewing larvae · 1–5 larvae /sq ft (about 11–54 /m²) per release
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHAMicrobial insecticide (fungus) · Label rate — ½–1 qt per 100 gal (BotaniGard ES / Mycotrol ES) or ½–1 lb (22WP)