Los Angeles, California, is a city that has perfect weather. Most days greet residents with sunshine and warmth. The soft breezes that waft off the Pacific Ocean provide just the cooling you need to stay comfortable while enjoying all Los Angeles offers. An ideal climate also comes with insects; they love the lovely weather. Perfect weather conditions can increase your battle with aphids, and without professional pest control in Los Angeles, they can do a number on your plants.

Are Aphids Beneficial?

Aphids on your Los Angeles property appear beneficial since they are an essential component in the food chain (others feed on them); they also attract "good" insects to your property. They are common in gardens and yards. Their coloring varies, coming in different colors, including brown, red, green, yellow, and black. Their bodies are pear-shaped and measure between 1/16 to 1/8 inches in length. Aphids have thin antennae, some have wings, and all have two tubes (cornicles) at the backside of their abdomen. The cornicles suck out juices from the leaves and stems of plants. 

Four Problems Aphids Cause

While aphids are known for their piercing-sucking mouthparts, they usually don't cause much damage to local plant life unless there are large quantities. Fortunately for homeowners, there are signs that property owners can look for that indicate a problem with these destructive pests.

Four problems to look for when aphids are on plants in your yard include:

  1. They can leave a sticky, shiny substance on leaves (honeydew), which causes leaves to stick together, stunting growth.
  2. Their eating can cause leaves on plants to look sickly (curled, yellow, misshapen).
  3. They can cause a fungus that deforms stems and leaves by making them appear black and sooty.
  4. They can spread viruses and often infect vegetables and flowers, leaving them yellowish and stunted.

When aphids start congregating on your plants, they can cause severe damage. At the first sign of aphids in your yard, it is best to contact HomeShield Pest Control for aphid control.

Do You Know How To Prevent Aphids?

Keeping large quantities of aphids away from plants can be achieved. Simple, consistent measures around your property can help keep their numbers to a minimum.

Five ways to prevent aphids from finding your plants delicious include:

  1. Watch landscaping; don't plant things that attract aphids like birch trees (notorious for attracting aphids).
  2. Ensure your plants are healthy by ensuring they have enough light, water, and nutrients in the soil. Healthy plants are harder to kill.
  3. Don't over-fertilize your plants; they can attract aphids when they grow too quickly (slow, steady growth is good).
  4. Inspect for aphids regularly. If you find them, use water to knock them off plants, prune them off, or even rub them off.
  5. Plant vegetation that encourages natural-born predators for aphids such as the ladybug, green lacewing, hoverflies, and birds. 

When you've done your best to prevent aphids from ruining foliage, but your home prevention is not working, to avoid aphid damage, it is best to call in HomeShield Pest Control. Our company has extensive training in aphid control, helping property owners restore their property to pristine conditions.

When Is It Time To Seek Professional Aphid Control?

When plants look like they are dying, leaves are discolored, and everything seems to be wilting, you may have an aphid infestation. At HomeShield Pest Control, our technicians are experts at spotting pest problems inside or outside your building. Our company is passionate about giving our customers high-quality home pest control and commercial pest control service in a safe and eco-friendly manner. Get a free quote and a 100% guarantee on our services today when you call HomeShield Pest Control.