BeneficialMelon aphid
Hoverflies for melon aphid
Syrphidae · wild predator (larvae)
Against melon aphid
UC IPM and UF/IFAS both list syrphid larvae among melon aphid's predators in cucurbits. They suppress the aphid but, as UC IPM warns, biological control does not reduce virus transmission, so combine them with silver reflective mulch, which repels the aphids and reduces or delays it.
RateWild — attract adults with open flowers
TimingSummer into the Sept–Oct peak in cucurbits
macro · hoverflies on melon aphid
The pestMelon aphidAphis gossypiiCurled, puckered leaves, heavy honeydew, cucurbit 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 melon 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
- Braconid waspsWild parasitoid · Wild — conserve; do not buy
- LadybugsWild predator · Nothing to release — conserve the ones already there