Aphids

They bring additional infections as their honeydew secrete and also transmit viruses from one plant to another over a prolonged period.

Hosts: Aphids has a vast list of plants which it affects. Few of them are Almond, apple, cabbage, cotton, garlic, grape, lettuce, maize, mango, millet etc.

They are very small in size (0.5 mm to 2 mm) and delicate bodied insects with long legs and antennae. They are found in multiple colours like brown, yellow, red or black depending on which species they belong to. They grow underside clusters of young leaves and shoot tips. They suck out fluids from the tissues with the help of their long mouth parts to tender them. 

In late spring or early summer, their invasion slows down as their population diminishes naturally due to climate change and increase in natural enemies. Several other species carry plant viruses which can lead to the development of other forms of diseases.

Biological remedies

Few predators are there which can help in controlling the population of aphids are ladybugs, lacewings, soldier beetles and parasitoid wasps. These natural killers of aphids will take care of the sucking insects in field conditions. You can use soft insecticidal soap solution or solutions depending on plant oils in case of mild infestation. Aphids are very sensitive to fungal diseases when it is humid around them. A simple spray of water can remove them from infected plants.