If you notice that on the blackcurrant the top leaves on the branches curled up, and swellings appeared on the white and red currants, it means that aphids have started on the berry bushes, which will inevitably attract ants. And in order to save the harvest, it is necessary to start a timely fight with these insects.
Where do aphids and ants come from on currants
The aphid lives on the underside of the leaves, hibernates under the bark of young shoots. In the spring, when it becomes warm outside, its larvae get out. They feed on the juice of young shoots. The leaves curl up, wither and die. The berries on the bushes become small, the yield decreases. Approximately in the middle of summer, when the growth of leaves stops, wings appear in the aphid, and it flies to neighboring plants, where it feeds until autumn. These insects reproduce rapidly. In autumn, the aphid again moves to the currant bushes and lays eggs. Where aphids have appeared, ants will soon appear.
Aphids and ants do not live separately
Ants do not eat aphids, but, on the contrary, carry them along the buds and twigs, providing themselves with food - the honey juice that it produces. This sugary substance is the best treat for them. They make their homes near the berry bushes. It is very easy to find anthills along earthen mounds and paths. Most often it is:
- Browns are a common type of forest ants with a black and gray color. They build their dwellings under stones or make earthen mounds.
- Black garden ants are small insects only 3–5 mm long. They live in rotten trees or make nests in the ground. They have a black color.
- Soddy - small earthen ants up to 4 mm in size. Yellowish brown to black in color. Build small earthen anthills.
All of them are carriers of aphids. Therefore, it is necessary to fight not with each insect separately, but with all in a complex.
However, in addition to harm, ants also bring benefits. They destroy caterpillars, midges, slugs, improve soil composition, enriching it with phosphorus and calcium.
Ways to deal with ants
Every gardener wants to grow organic berries and fruits on his site. It is necessary to resort to the use of chemicals that affect not only the currant bush, but also the soil under it, only in cases where the colonies of aphids and ants are very large.
It’s worth starting with folk remedies. They are quite effective and safe.
Folk methods
- One of the easiest ways to get rid of ants is to treat their place of residence with boiling water. Previously, the anthill must be excavated. This procedure is done several times.
- Feeders with bait from eggs and boric acid with sugar, taken in a 1: 1 ratio, will help drive away uninvited guests from the site. Traps are placed under the bushes. They are safe for humans and animals. Boric acid can also be mixed with jam, yeast, honey. The result will be the same.
- Garlic repels ants with its smell. It can be planted next to or spread out cloves around the bushes.
- Insects do not like the smell of tansy, parsley, tomatoes, valerian, cloves, anise. These plants can also be laid out around seedlings.
- Dwellings of insects can be sprinkled with cinnamon, red pepper, tobacco, ash. This will permanently evict the ants from the site.
- Kerosene or diesel fuel will help get rid of insects if they are poured over anthills. To do this, dilute 10 tablespoons of kerosene or diesel fuel in 10 liters of water.
Photo gallery: an arsenal of folk remedies for pests
Dusting currant bushes with wood ash helps to get rid of ants. 
Boric acid, eggs, and sugar can be used to make poison bait to kill ants. 
Spicy smells of cloves and anise repel ants 
Ants can be driven away by sprinkling tobacco on their dwellings.
Ant Control Chemicals
If you decide to fight ants with chemicals, then diazinon-based products will be the most effective. It is a strong poison of contact-intestinal action. Through the skin, it is absorbed into the body of insects and causes paralysis in them. Ants die in 2-3 days. The protective period after treatment lasts 3 weeks. Based on diazinon, drugs are produced: Ant, Anteater, Thunder-2, Muracid.
- Thunder-2 –
It is produced in the form of granules, which include diazonin. Belongs to the 2nd hazard group. When processing plants, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment: a respirator, glasses, gloves. To destroy the anthill, they remove the top layer of soil to a depth of 2-3 cm and pour poison, sprinkle it with earth on top. Insects usually disappear after 3-4 days.
Thunder-2 are pellets that need to be buried in an anthill
- The drug Ant is available in granules and allows you to get rid of ants in the garden. The product is safe for animals and plants. Sold in bags of 10 g, it is a food bait, it is not diluted with water. The drug is instilled to a depth of 2 cm around the anthill. One sachet of funds is enough to process 5 m 2. It belongs to the 2nd hazard group, and it is better to work with it with the use of protective equipment.
Ant is safe for animals and plants
- Muracid is used to control garden and domestic ants. It is available as a liquid and diluted in water: 1 milliliter of the drug per 10 liters of water. Insects die 2-4 days after treatment. Based on the insecticide, baits are made, which are placed around the bushes in small containers. To do this, 100 grams of sugar, 20 grams of honey and one drop of the product are diluted in 100 grams of water.
On the basis of Muracid, poisoned baits for ants are made
- The anteater is used to control garden ants. Sold in the form of liquid ampoules. To prepare a solution, 1 ml of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water. With this volume, 7-10 anthills can be processed.
One ampoule of the Anteater is enough to treat 7-10 anthills
Aphid control
Mechanical, biological and chemical protection methods will help protect seedlings from these pests.
Mechanical methods
The fight against aphids on currant bushes begins in early spring and ends in late autumn. One of the main ways is to carry out seasonal pruning.
- In the spring, before the buds open, the currants should be shed with hot water heated to 80 ° C in order to destroy the pests that overwintered on the plants. It is also necessary to cut and eliminate diseased shoots.
- In the summer, infected branches are removed and burned. This can only be done if the damage to the bush is small. For prevention, it is necessary to weed out the weeds from under the plants and control the appearance of anthills. Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, kill aphids. To attract them to the site, alissum and marigolds are planted near currants.
- In autumn, old and diseased branches are cut and burned along with fallen leaves. Healthy shoots are sprayed with protective preparations. They dig up the earth under the bushes.
Seasonal pruning is an effective mechanical method for controlling aphids on currants
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are used to combat aphids and do not harm bees and ladybugs. To scare away, use infusions and decoctions from plants grown in beds and flower beds:
- marigolds,
- garlic,
- tomatoes,
- celandine,
- red pepper.
Aphids live on the back of the leaf, so it is necessary to spray and process each branch along the entire length. Young shoots are tilted, lowered into a container with a solution and completely washed. Work is best done in the evening, in dry and calm weather. Bushes and everything that grows under them are processed.
- An infusion of marigolds is obtained from dried flowers. They take half a ten-liter bucket of crushed flowers and add warm water to a full bucket, insist for three days and then filter. Before spraying add 50 grams of soap.
- A decoction of red hot peppers is prepared from fresh pods. One kilogram of hot pepper fruits is cut and poured with 10 liters of cold water, boiled for one hour. The prepared solution is removed for 3-4 days in a dark place. The resulting concentrated broth is filtered and placed in a cold place. For spraying, one glass of concentrated liquid is diluted in ten liters of water. To keep the drug longer on the leaves, add soap.
- Garlic infusion: crush 0.5 kg of garlic and pour 5 liters of water at room temperature. Insist during the day, filter and apply for spraying.
- A decoction of tomato leaves. To obtain a concentrated product, 2 kg of dry and 4 kg of fresh tomato tops are crushed and boiled for half an hour in 10 liters of water. Cool, strain and place in a cold place. For spraying plants, the concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5. Soap can be added to the solution.
- A solution of soda ash is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 tablespoon of soda. Such a tool at the same time helps to fight the fungus.
- Infusion of ash with wormwood. Grind 500 g of wormwood and pour 5 liters of water, add 1 glass of ash and 50 g of laundry soap. Insist 5 hours. To obtain a working mixture, one part of the solution is combined with two parts of water.
- Infusion of celandine. Insist 4 kg of fresh celandine grass in 10 liters of water during the day. Spray the currants with a ready-made solution. Celandine is a poisonous plant and during processing it is necessary to use protective equipment for eyes, hands, and respiratory organs.
If the leaves on the blackcurrant curled up into a tube, this means that they are affected by a pest. Most likely, the gooseberry shoot aphid attacked the bush. In the article we will tell you why aphids appear on currants, how to deal with this pest with chemical and folk methods.
A miniature insect, 2 mm in size, has a unique way of development. In the spring, young females appear from the eggs that have overwintered in the kidneys. During the vegetative period, they give 10-15 generations. Over the summer, when the “gnawed” bush does not provide food, then the winged form of aphids develops massively, which safely moves to fresh plants. In autumn, males appear, which fertilize the eggs that hibernate in the kidneys.
Swollen oblong bubbles of red-orange color, on red and white currants - this is a red-gall or currant hairy aphid.Prevention and methods of dealing with aphids
A complex of mechanical, agronomic, biological and chemical methods of plant protection will help prevent the appearance of pests on currants. Agronomic prevention begins long before planting. One of the criteria for future protection is the choice of varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests.
| Kinds | ||
| Black | Red | White |
| curiosity | Konstantinovskaya | White diamond |
| In memory of Ravkin | Gazelle | Versailles white |
| Loyalty | Valentinovka | Yuterbogskaya |
| Vologda | dutch pink | Smolyaninovskaya |
| dove | ||
| Gulliver | ||
| Kipiana | ||
Rich fertile soil helps plants cope with pests. It ensures the full growth of the crop, and a healthy plant independently resists pests. With the onset of heat, you can apply organic fertilizers containing potassium and effective microorganisms, such as "Baikal - EM - 1" to improve soil fertility.
Mechanical methods are used seasonally:
- In early spring, before bud break, currant bushes are poured with hot water. From this, pests and pathogens that hibernate on the bushes die.
- In summer, if signs of aphids appear on the currant, the affected leaves are removed and burned. But this method is only suitable for slightly damaged plants. It is impossible to cut off most of the crown, from this the shoots will get sunburn.
- In autumn, old, damaged and infected shoots are cut off for disinfection and burned along with dry leaves. The remaining branches are treated with protective equipment. This is done even with those bushes on which there were no pests in the summer. The procedure is repeated in early spring until the bushes are scalded with hot water.
Biological protection must begin with the elimination of ants. Experienced gardeners recommend cutting off the ant path from plantations with oak or walnut bark and wood chips. Tip #1. Do not spread oak or walnut bark between plants. For ant control, it is best to place oak mulch around the anthill and where nothing grows.
Folk remedies for the prevention and control of aphids on currants
Available means for the prevention and control of ants and aphids are presented in the table.
| № | Name and composition | Preparation and dosage |
| 1. | wood ash |
|
| 2. | Wood ash + tobacco |
Insist for a day. Before use, strain. |
| 3. | Celandine | 3.5 kg of ground leaves and stems pour 10 liters of water for 18 - 24 hours. |
| 4. | onion peel | 200 g per 10 liters of water, keep for 3-4 days. |
| 5. | Soda ash + laundry soap | 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water. |
Celandine is a common plant, its preparation is not problematic. The advantage of infusions and solutions is that they are safe for humans and the environment. They are easy to make from plants and available materials. Perhaps some gardeners will object that the work of harvesting raw materials and obtaining solutions takes a lot of time. But the systematic use of environmental products does not harm health, ensures the quality of fruits, and does not pollute the atmosphere.
True, with some plants you need to be on the alert, for example, celandine juice is poisonous and you need to work with it with rubber gloves. The disadvantage of homemade products is considered to be a “soft” effect on pests. That is why they are best used for prevention or in the initial stage of infection.
How long does it take to get rid of aphids
The number of treatments depends on the degree of infection of the currant and the number of ants - suppliers of new aphid colonies. Often one session is enough to get rid of the pest, provided that there are no new arrivals.
If you do not destroy the ants, then you will have to fight aphids all summer. The frequency of spraying depends on the duration of the drug. Read also the article: → "". For example, herbal infusions are used every week, and the effect of some chemicals lasts much longer:
- Ratibor - 15 - 25;
- Aktara - 14 -28;
- Actellik - 15 - 20;
- Antitlya - 15 - 20;
- Presto - 21 - 30. (Terms of protection are indicated in days).
Plant protectors from aphids
Getting rid of pests completely is impossible. This means that no matter how much they fight with them, a small population will still remain. But if it is not allowed to spread, then the damage caused by it will be minimal. Plants, the smell of which repels the pest, will help prevent a mass invasion of aphids. Ornamental plants with a specific aroma give a good result:
| Pest name | The plant is a protector |
| Ants | Peppermint |
| Spearmint | |
| Tansy | |
| Wormwood | |
| lavender angustifolia | |
| small valerian | |
| Aphid | Kotovnik |
| Coriander | |
| Schnitt - onion | |
| Fennel | |
| Garlic | |
| Marigold | |
| Mustard | |
| Nasturtium | |
| Peppermint |
Tip #2. Against aphids on currants, you can plant aromatic herbs - borage, chervil, hyssop, lavender, dill, marjoram, medicinal chamomile, thyme, savory, sage.
Currant processing calendar is presented in the table:
| Term | Job Description |
| Early spring before buds swell | Pruning old and suspicious shoots. Dousing with hot water. |
| Before bud break | Treatment with soapy water or adhesive. The imposition of trapping belts from ants. (May be substituted with sticky fly tape.) |
| The appearance of inflorescences | Preventive spraying with insecticides. |
| At the end of flowering | Re-treatment with chemicals. |
| During the fruiting period | Apply only herbal infusions and biological agents. |
| After harvest | Remove affected leaves. Treat with protective equipment. |
| autumn | Collection of fallen leaves. Pruning affected branches. Burning dry plant residues. Application of potassium fertilizers. Spraying with insecticides. |
Plant protection products are sprayed taking into account the weather and time of day:
- Chemical preparations have temperature limits. For example, Actellik, Fufanol are effective at t - +15 0, so they begin to be used in the spring.
Most chemicals are sprayed in the evening, at sunset. Morning treatments are less effective due to dew on the leaves. The substance is not absorbed, because it flows from the wet surface of the leaf. - Biological substances are active in warmer weather. For example, Aktofit, acts the faster, the higher the temperature. It can be used during the day, even in hot weather.
- At the time of spraying and a few hours after, dry, calm weather without rain is required. Some solutions are absorbed within 2-3 days, it is at this time that the treated plants cannot be watered.
Analysis of sprayers, their effectiveness and disadvantages, application features
Most chemical, biological and folk remedies are applied to currants in the form of a liquid solution. What are different types of atomizers used for?
| Construction type | Brand | Tank volume (l) | Characteristic | |
| Manual | Manabi KIMA 9 | 6 | polypropylene tank, equipped with a shoulder strap. Handy spray lever. |
|
| Hydraulic | Comfort (Clever) | 16 | Stainless container, equipped with a hose, 1.5 m long. It is used in small areas. | |
| Petrol | MAKITA EVH2000 | 20 | Engine capacity 24 cm3. The model is equipped with removable tubes - sprayers of different lengths. Efficiently sprays liquid at low and high levels. | |
| Rechargeable | OE - 16A | 16 | Provides mobility. Eliminates dependence on fuel and lubricants. Used in large areas. The model is equipped with backpack straps. | |
The disadvantage of manual models is that the volume of the container is usually small, because you need to hold and press the lever with one hand. Such sprayers are used in small areas. The advantage is ease of use and reliability of the mechanism.
For large areas, backpack sprayers with tanks with a capacity of more than 10 liters, equipped with shoulder straps, are suitable. Their advantage is that they spray liquid with minimal effort on the part of the gardener. The disadvantages of gasoline models are dependence on fuels and lubricants of certain brands.
Cordless sprayers are much more efficient than mechanical sprayers, the continuous operation time is 2 hours. Rubric "Questions and answers"
Question number 1. How often do you need to treat currants from a tick with herbal infusions?
At least every week, even if there are no visible signs of damage.
Question #2. There is no time to collect plants and prepare infusions from aphids, we do not live in the country, we visit, and we love currants very much. Are there other non-chemical methods of protection?
Try diluting ammonia with water - 2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water. It is impossible to call this agent non-chemical, but it is safe for humans and plants, the smell quickly evaporates, and the substance is absorbed into the tissues of the plant and protects it from aphids and other insects.
Question #3. What is the difference between methods of fighting aphids on red and black currants?
There is no particular difference. The gooseberry shoot aphid on blackcurrants and the red-nosed or currant hairy aphid on redcurrants appear and reproduce similarly. Therefore, the destruction methods are the same.
Question #4. The currant is completely damaged by aphids, is it necessary to cut off all the leaves?
This method will not help. Without leaves, the bush will get burned. In this case, you need to use chemical insecticides.
Mistakes when growing currants
- Some gardeners do not attach importance to the presence of ants on currants affected by aphids. It is impossible to get rid of a pest if their "suppliers" are not eliminated.
- The top spraying of the crown does not affect the aphids that hide on the underside of the leaves. When processing, the solution must be sprayed from all sides, lifting each branch.
- Unsuccessful decision to schedule spraying with protective equipment without taking into account the weather forecast. Possible rain will reduce all efforts to zero result.
Garden plots of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine abound with currant bushes. The mass of nutrients contained in the fruits of this shrub brought him great popularity. Currant fruits have healing properties and are widely used in folk medicine. However, currants are loved not only by people, but also by pests, the main of which is aphids. How to get rid of aphids on currants? What are the methods of dealing with aphids, you can find out by reading this article.
It is very easy to notice the presence of aphids on currants. Having carefully looked at the bush and noticed ants scurrying everywhere on it, we can safely assume that there is an aphid colony here.
After all, aphids and ants are one. Ants feed on the honeydew secreted by aphids during their digestion. By itself, the aphid is clumsy and slow, so the ants carry it on themselves to the most delicious parts of the plant. Therefore, to start the fight against aphids, you need to destroy the ants. Carefully examining the surroundings near the bush in search of an anthill, you can definitely find it near the currant, or even in its roots. Now it remains to pour a bucket of boiling water into the anthill in early spring. The ants will die at the same time, and then you can already begin to destroy the aphids.
Aphids are found inside unopened buds, which are easy to identify by their appearance. Buds with aphids inside are larger and have a rounded shape. All such kidneys are collected and burned.
How to get rid of aphids on currant leaves?
Often, red bulges can be seen on the leaves. The leaves are swollen and have a very unhealthy appearance. This means that the leaves were struck by the red-gall aphid. The eggs laid by her hibernate on the branches of the bush, and with the onset of spring, the larvae emerge from them and settle on the reverse side of young currant leaves. In places of accumulation of aphids, the leaves swell and acquire a reddish tint.
Blackcurrant leaves are more often affected by gooseberry shoot aphids. She appears on the tops of the shoots, sucks the juice out of them, the leaves curl and bend.
Measures to combat aphids on currants
You need to immediately understand for yourself that it is impossible to get rid of aphids forever. But it is necessary to correctly build and apply a line of defense.
There are two ways to deal with aphids, namely:
- organic;
- chemical.
The organic method of aphids includes a variety of methods associated with natural remedies, without the use of pesticides. Such methods are particularly effective in preventing disease or in the early stages of infestation of an aphid plant.
To prevent the spread of aphids, excess shoots are cut out, tops in which aphids freely reproduce. Next, you should regularly water, feed and mulch the plant. On a healthy bush with hard dark leaves, aphids will feel uncomfortable. It is imperative to clean the bark in the places of its exfoliation, where aphids overwintered, which contributes to its significant reduction.
We must not forget about the natural predators of aphids - ladybugs. To attract these beneficial insects, you need to plant nasturtium, tansy, mallow, cosmea, calendula near the currant. The scents of these flowers attract ladybugs and encourage them to reproduce.
There is no need to rush to remove all the weeds under the currant bushes. It is advisable to leave one or two bushes of quinoa, which is a delicacy for aphids. The affected quinoa bush can be easily pulled out and destroyed when it has fulfilled its function, taking fire upon itself.
Chemical methods are used when natural remedies no longer help or when time is limited.
Chemical preparations for combating aphids are:
- contact;
- intestinal;
- systemic.
Contact preparations "Fufan", "Fury", "Karbafos" instantly rid the plant of aphids, as penetrating through its cover, they immediately kill it.
Intestinal enter the digestive system during the absorption of leaves treated with chemicals "Confidor", "BI-58 New".
The action of systemic drugs is extended in time for 15-20 days. Processing the bush with such preparations makes the juice poisonous for a very long time. Such a drug may be Aktara.
Video: how to protect redcurrant from aphids
Ugly swellings and growths on the leaves of red currant at first glance look like a disease, but it was the gall aphid that worked. Feeding on the juices of the plant, it causes its deformation - traces of vital activity are similar to healed wounds. Worst of all, the voracious and prolific insect prefers young shoots, which means it harms not only the current state of the shrub, but also reduces the chances of a good harvest in the future.
Description of the insect, its harmfulness
The leaf gall aphid is one of the 4 thousand species of the aphid family living on the planet. The distribution area of the redcurrant pest is Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, Central Asia, and is currently found wherever this berry bush is grown.
It is red and white currants that act as a food base and host plant for the species, sometimes it can slightly populate black currants. As a facultative (intermediate) plant, she uses herbs of the Lamiaceae (labial) family. In the second half of summer, or if the colony is overcrowded, aphids populate nearby mint, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, and are very fond of chistets.
In structure and appearance, the gall aphid is similar to its many relatives. A small egg-shaped insect reaches a length of no more than 2–2.3 mm. The majority of representatives are wingless; winged individuals appear in later generations. Among the differences are a pale, greenish-yellow, almost transparent cover, as well as the presence of small hairs on the body, which is why it is also called hairy.
During the season, from 4 to 19 generations of the insect develop - the warmer the region, the more. It is fertility that exacerbates its harmfulness. One single founding aphid gives life to tens or even hundreds of thousands of sucking pests. What is the size of the damage from gall aphids that have settled on currants?
- Sucking out the juices, she depletes the shoots. To “heal” wounds, the plant produces special tissues that form growths at the site of damage - galls. If the aphids are not dealt with, they will give birth to new generations and live on the branches until they dry out.
- Attracts other pests, such as ants, to the garden. Not only do they “graze” aphids, protect their entomophages, contribute to its spread, but they themselves feed on the juice of the berries of the same strawberries or grapes.
- Gall aphid can be a carrier of pathogens of plant viral infections.
Young shoots affected by aphids, even after the destruction of the pest, lag behind in growth, recover for a long time, therefore, their productivity decreases.
Note! Thunderstorm of aphids - insects-entomophages, in particular ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies. But if the colony is guarded by ants, they will not let them come close.
"Family" hierarchy of the gall aphid
The life cycle of leaf gall aphids is characterized by such a phenomenon as polyformism. This means that different generations of an insect can differ not only in appearance, but also perform different functions. How does the hierarchy of aphids look like during the growing season and the full cycle of transformation?
- The founding aphid hatches from the egg. She is the "mother" of all generations that will appear during the season. This is a parthenogenetic individual, besides viviparous, that is, it gives birth to ready-made insects and only females, which in turn produce the next generation of offspring.
- Virgin aphids represent the bulk of the gall aphids that we observe on currants. They do not have wings, so insects are constantly on the host plant, parthenogenetic females give birth to their own kind.
- Settler aphids are a winged generation, they perform a slightly different function. When the colony expands or the food base is depleted, they fly to a new place and establish the next settlement.
- Aphids are a transitional generation of an insect from which females capable of laying eggs and males appear.
- Aphids-females and aphids-males are bisexual generation, which provides wintering of the species. From eggs laid in the bark of currant stalks, aphids-founders appear in spring.
How does a pest develop?
Leaf gall aphids lay their eggs under the bark of red currant branches, closer to the buds. Here, depending on the climatic zone and weather conditions, it can stay up to 9 months. In the spring, as soon as the buds begin to bloom, the founders emerge from the eggs and populate the plant.
Active reproduction of the insect begins from the moment the shrub blooms. The peak of harmfulness falls on June, when the colony reaches its maximum size. In the second half of summer, currant leaves coarsen, aphids begin to settle on intermediate plants. Several more generations of the pest feed on them. A bisexual generation also appears here, which will return to the currant to lay eggs. It happens closer to autumn.
Ways to deal with leaf aphids on currants
An attentive gardener will not miss the appearance of gall aphids on currants, he will immediately take adequate control measures. It is important to notice the deformation of young leaves at the initial stage of vegetation. On them, the galls look like small red spots. In addition, the presence of a pest last season is a serious reason to start preventive measures on the bush as early as possible.
Prevention of infection of a berry bush
In order not to rack your brains on how to get rid of gall aphids, you can try to prevent its appearance. What is recommended for this?
- In early spring, before bud break, or in autumn, after leaf fall, spray the bushes and the near-stem area with a solution of nitrafen. The drug is harmful to the leaves (burns them), so the treatment should not be late. Its plus is that it destroys the eggs of wintering pests. For currants, a 3% solution (30 ml / l of water) is used. To process an adult bush, you will need about 0.5 liters.
- To protect the berry plant from insect colonization from the outside, for example, from neighbors, it is recommended to plant plants with a pungent odor next to the berry bush - calendula, marigolds, chamomile.
- Destroy weeds in the garden, especially the cleaner (the second name is deaf nettle). This perennial weed is an intermediate host of the gall aphid, for which it will thank you.
Advice! One of the options for destroying gall aphid eggs, which can be found in the literature, is scalding the bush with boiling water in the spring. How effective this is, only our own experience can show.
mechanical way
At the initial stage of infection, mechanical removal of shoots with a colony of pests is recommended. The bush is carefully examined, all branches are cut out with the slightest deformation of the leaves. If at least a few individuals remain, they will quickly multiply again. Cut shoots must be disposed of, best of all, burned. This method of struggle gives a good effect in combination with the treatment with natural insecticides.
Advice! Along with young growth, the insect is very fond of fatty shoots. When pruning a bush in the spring, first of all, remove the wen, cut out all the excess zero shoots.
Spraying with natural insecticides: recipes
Some plants contain a large amount of fungicides, pyrethrins, and other substances that have a destructive effect on gall aphids, so they are widely used to control the pest. To enhance the negative impact, it is recommended to add soap to the infusions, which envelops the insect, blocks its access to oxygen (aphids breathe through the skin). Here is a recipe for several popular infusions.
- Based on tobacco dust. To prepare a bucket of infusion, you need 300 g of a herbal preparation. It is poured with boiling water and insisted for 2-3 days. The settled solution is filtered, 100 g of laundry soap dissolved in water are added. You can also use tar soap or other liquid detergent, for example, for dishes.
- Infusion of marigolds. For infusion, take half a bucket of crushed flowers, pour them with 10 liters of hot water and insist for 48 hours. 50 g of liquid soap is added to the finished strained infusion.
- Infusion of mustard powder. To prepare 10 liters of working solution, you need 25 g of dry mustard. First, a concentrate is prepared - mustard powder is poured with a liter of boiling water, insisted for 2 days. Then it is brought to full volume, soap is added.
Biochemical way of fighting
When the gall aphid has already bred, it is impossible to do without chemicals to combat it. Given the toxicity and retention time of toxic components in plant tissues, it is recommended to spray currants with insecticides at the budding stage, and the second time after harvesting. Spraying with Calypso, Confidor Maxi, Aktelik, Vofatoks, Proteus gives a long-term effect.
In addition to chemical insecticides, the modern "plant pharmacy" offers biological preparations that are harmless to humans and pets. They are made from spore bacteria, components of fungi, viruses. Getting into the body of an insect with food, they affect the intestinal tract, paralyzing and destroying it. Examples of such drugs are Avertin, Aktofit, Bitoxibacillin.
The fight against aphids on currants:
With the onset of summer, a lot of pests appear in the garden that can bring significant damage to fruit plantations. This is a leafworm, and spider mites, and a scale insect. Especially detrimental damage is caused by aphid colonies on currants, so how to deal with it, you need to find out in advance. You can learn about her visit by twisted leaves, characteristic swellings on them, and premature drying of the crown. In addition to the main damage, aphids lead to infection with transmissible infections.
The harmful effect of aphids can be seen by twisted and swollen leaves.
Twisted foliage when attacked by a pest
It is quite difficult to fight aphids due to the fact that most species do not lay eggs, but are viviparous. During the season, under favorable conditions, up to 10 generations are born.
Varieties of aphids and signs of its appearance
In nature, there are more than 4 thousand species of aphids, 8 of which are dangerous for currants and other fruit and berry crops. Each species is recognized not only by external characteristics, but also by secondary signs of its life activity.
For currants, the following are considered harmful:
- red gall aphid;
- bird cherry;
- sugar beet;
- blackberry;
- green;
- currant-salad;
- peach.
The result of the harmful activity of the gall aphid
The red gall type has winged and wingless varieties. The first one is larger and has a rich green color. Winged representatives have a watery yellow body, a pair of transparent wings. You can recognize the pest by reddish swellings in the central part of the currant leaves. The branches of an infected shrub are dotted with galls - red-brown growths in which aphids breed. When damaged, the insects patch up the breakdowns with their own bodies and milk, as a result of which they die.
The bird cherry type is distinguished by its brown color and is the main carrier of vector-borne infections. When it appears, the leaves of the plant dry out and twist into a tube.
The beet (bean) species has an oval shape and a black (rarely olive) color. Rarely affects currants, as it specializes in legumes and root crops. Signs of infection include yellowing punctures on young shoots and curled foliage.
Blackberry aphid has a yellow-green color. It feeds on the fruitful buds of plants, because of which their productivity suffers. It is determined by drying tops and yellowing buds. She attacks not only blackberry bushes, but also settles on currants, raspberries, grapes, apple trees.
Currant - green aphid, the period of activity of which falls on June and July, in 4-5 generations gives rise to winged forms that can migrate to neighboring shrubs and branches. Refers to oviparous varieties. The breeding season falls in September. Females lay their eggs under the currant bark and cover the place of laying with milk. Overwintered larvae are capable of reproduction on the 2nd day of life. Signs of the appearance of this type in spring, summer, autumn are twisted leaves, slow growth of the bush.
The currant-lettuce aphid differs from the above in its orange color and the ability to carry the Gooseberry virus.
The peach form has a light green color and small dimensions. It is most dangerous for currants, since in one puncture it can transmit up to 120 types of infection to a bush.
Biopreparations and chemicals against aphids
Chemical preparations against the pest are most often used before the appearance of fruit ovaries on red, black and golden currants. With a strong infection, the bush is processed 7-10 days before harvest.
Of the chemicals effective are:
- Kalash,
- Tanker,
- spark double effect,
- Aktara,
- Actellik,
- Decis,
- Intavir and others
Jaguar is an effective remedy for aphids and weeds based on ethyl phenoxaprop-P. Sold in 5 liter containers. Differs in fast absorption. The effect lasts from 3 to 4 weeks. Processing is carried out in dry, slightly windy weather, at least 3 hours before precipitation. The optimum temperature for spraying is from +25°C. The solution is prepared in a ratio of 1 part Jaguar to 10 parts water.
The dosages of the most popular chemicals are given in the memo.
Biopreparations that help with aphids include:
- Acrofit,
- Fitoverm,
- Lepidocide,
- bikol,
- Bitoxibacillin and others.
Biological preparation Fitoverm
A remedy based on aversectin C, produced in ampoules of 2.4, 5 ml, or vials of 20 ml. Has a prolonged action. The poisoned insect dies after 4-5 days after spraying.
Processing is carried out in dry clear weather. In the dry period, the drug remains effective from a week to three. In case of dew, rain, spraying must be repeated. During the flowering period, Fitoverm is prohibited for use. The berries are edible after 5 days from the day of treatment, as the active components of the drug provoke poisoning.
It is forbidden to combine with alkaline solutions.
Before the planned combined treatment, a test must be carried out. Fitoverm is mixed with other drugs and the appearance of a precipitate is monitored. When it occurs, chemicals for combination are prohibited.
To prepare the solution, use 5 ml of Fitoverm per 600 ml of water with a neutral ph. The liquid consumption is 10 l/100 m 2 . The treatment is carried out in a special suit with protection of the respiratory tract, mucous membranes and skin. Repeated spraying is carried out after 20 days.
Fufanon with fast acting effect
Phosphorus organic emulsion produced in 10 ml bottles and 5 ml ampoules. The main component of the drug is Melathion. Has a fast acting effect. When it hits aphids, it causes complete paralysis after 2 hours of action and death after a day.
Before treating currants with this remedy, it is necessary to withstand at least 15 days from the date of the last feeding. It is completely incompatible with other chemicals. To prepare an aqueous solution, 5 ml of the substance and 5 liters of pure water are used. Spray currants on a cloudy day in the early morning or at sunset. The duration of action does not exceed 4-7 days, after the specified time period it is necessary to re-spray the bushes.
Acrophyte in the fight against aphids
Acrophyte is a concentrated solution of aversectin C with paralytic action. Sold in packaging of 40, 200 and 900 ml, as well as in bottles of 4.8 liters. When hit on the body of an aphid, it causes instant paralysis. The infected insect dies within 48 hours after treatment. The drug is resistant to atmospheric precipitation and remains in the plant for 2-3 weeks. Pests drinking the juice of processed currants die out in 2-3 days. Acrofit is not addictive.
Acrophyte is not used during flowering.
The optimal time for spraying is dry, calm weather at a temperature of +20 ° C. For spraying, 8 ml of the substance is diluted in 1 liter of water. Bushes and berries are treated with a ready-made solution. The fruits are edible after 2-3 days. Repeated spraying is carried out after 2 weeks. The solution is not suitable for storage, the active substance avesectin decomposes in water.
Folk remedies in the fight against aphid colonies in spring and during fruiting
Folk pest control measures are numerous. Processing in the spring from aphids is reduced to the destruction of larvae and overwintered individuals. For these purposes, insecticides, pesticides or boiling water are used. In April, marigolds, Dalmatian chamomile, garlic or onions are planted around an infected currant bush. The smell of these plants repels not only aphids, but also ants.
In April, the stems of shrubs are wrapped in tar-soaked patches, and also sprayed with a solution of laundry soap. It is also possible to process currants during fruiting with folk remedies. They are safe for humans and bees, but effective against insect pests.
When folk remedies help, and in what cases you can not do without chemistry is described in the video.
Laundry soap, tobacco, esters
If young shoots and berries are eaten by aphids, and the gardener does not risk using chemicals, a soap solution is an effective substitute. For its preparation, dark-colored laundry soap and warm water are used. The soap is rubbed on a grater, then 4 tbsp. l. masses are diluted in 200 ml of water, mixed, poured into a spray bottle. The resulting mixture must be sprayed on the affected bushes.
Tobacco is harmless to bees and humans. Currant infusion can be watered in June, during the period of active flowering of the bush. For cooking, take 100 g of shag or tobacco leaves, pour a liter of boiling water, let it brew for about 8-12 hours. The crown is sprayed with a cooled infusion once every 2 weeks, not earlier than 7 days before harvesting.
Tobacco infusion can be used throughout the summer until the complete destruction of aphids.
Citrus fruits, spruce needles, onions and garlic contain a high concentration of phytoncides. Their sharp aroma repels insect pests and helps to fight not only aphids, but also ants.
15 drops of essential oil are added to 100 mg of cream and mixed with 400 ml of warm water. The currants are sprayed with the mixture in the morning and evening for 10 days. The number of aphids will decrease by 1/3 already on the 3rd day, in a week the carriers will also leave the plant. Repeat processing as needed.
Trichopolum and tar
Trichopol is an oral drug based on metronidazole used to treat bacterial diseases. They are often treated with currants during the invasion of aphids. Trichopolum instantly penetrates the body of insect pests and causes paralysis. The solution is prepared from 20 tablets per 10 liters of water. The treatment is carried out in dry weather, if necessary, repeated daily for 1 week.
Tar tires placed on currant trunks prevent ants from entering the crown and spreading aphids. For the preparation of tires, birch tar and gauze bandages are used. The fabric is abundantly moistened with liquid, and the trunks are wrapped at a level of 10 cm from the ground. The soil around the hole is shed with a water-tar solution in a ratio of 5:10. After precipitation, the bundles are again moistened with tar. To do this, a concentrated liquid is drawn into the syringe, injected directly into the bandage. The strong smell repels ants.
Mechanical processing and the use of boiling water until the kidneys swell
Sanitary cleaning is an effective method of dealing with aphids. Using a pruner, cut out all the affected leaves from the crown. Branches and shoots are cleaned of insects, smeared with garlic juice. At the end of the cleaning, the affected foliage is burned.
Video about boiling water treatment.
To finally get rid of gall and green aphids on currant bushes, it is necessary to destroy the egg laying. To do this, in early March, before the buds swell, the crown is doused with hot water several times. It is important that the water jet be sprayed and fall into cracks in the bark. Acceptable temperature for spraying is + 80 ... 90 ° С. It is worth considering that until the gardener reaches the desired shrub, they will take such indicators, and a few more degrees will be lost during processing.
After spraying with boiling water, the trunks are whitened with slaked lime. Lime contributes to the destruction of the remnants of the colony, filling the voids in the trunks and under the bark, preventing the spread of pests.
The fight against aphids on currants is a responsible event, it does not tolerate delay, as you can be left without a crop or, in the worst case, lose the entire bush. Therefore, preventive measures are the key to the health of fruit plantations and abundant harvests.
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