The cotton aphid has many natural enemies such as syrphid fly larvae, parasites, and others. Natural enemies and weather conditions help control aphids during the growing season. Damage Aphids damage cotton by sucking juices from the plant and by secreting honeydew. High populations in young cotton cause the leaves to curl or crinkle. This causes young plants to become stunted and die.
Aphid damage causes leaves to cup downward.
When infestation occurs during the main fruiting period, the older leaves may turn yellow and shed. Squares and bolls drop off as a result of severe leaf shed. During late season, honeydew secretion falls on open cotton causing a black sooty mold to develop. In severe cases, the mold stains the lint or causes sticky lint. This is a serious problem for cotton mills.