AVRDC International Cooperators'
Fact Sheet
Tomato Insect Pests
Cotton Aphid
Aphis gossypii
Found worldwide
Damage Symptoms
Leaves are stunted and distorted and often curl under. The
upper surface is sticky and has a black moldy growth.
Plants have fewer frutis than usual. Some wilting is also
evident.
Insect Characteristics
Piercing-sucking mouthparts. These are small insects that
are rather pear-shaped with prominent reddish eyes. They
vary from yellow to green to black. Some have transparent
wings.
Where To Look
Select leaves that are beginning to curl under or have signs
of black sooty mold on the upper surface. Turn them over
and look for groups of variable-sized insects. You should
see adults and young living and feeding together.
Aphids on leaves
Technical information
The cotton aphid has continual generations and many different host. When populations
on the host plant are high, winged forms are produced, and these fly to adjacent plants
to establish new colonies. Aphid colonies are commonly visited by ants which feed on
the honeydew secreted by the aphids. This honeydew also serves ad the food on which
the sooty mold grows. The cotton aphid is a virus vector and has a wide host range
including many vegetable crops.
Control
To be added.
http://www.avrdc.org/LC/tomato/cottonaphid.html
Last updated: 2001.
Information from: Field Guide: Insect Pests of Selected Vegetables in Tropical and Subtropical
Asia. 1995. B.L. Parker, N.S. Talekar and M. Skinner. Publication 94-427. Pesticide and other control
recommendations should be adapted for local conditions.
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