West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-08
Aphis on ROsebushes

ana stems or roSehushes are often
covered with a small green or pinkish
plant-louse known as the rose aphis
which sucks the sap from the tender
portion OF the plant and causes an
unhealthy curled condition OF the fol-
iage and disappointment in the mum
ber and quality of the flowers produc-
ed.
The rose aphis passes the winter I'm
the egg stage on the stems and dor
mant buds OF the rosebushes. accord
ing to A. ID. Hopkins, forest entomolo-
gist OF the department The insects
hatching from these eggs reach ma
turity in about 10 to 20 days. all being
wingless females. They are pear
shaped and either bright green or
pinldsh I'm color When mature they
begin to produce living young. each
individual I'm the course OF about 20
days. producing so to 100 young fe-
males. which on maturity are either
winged or wingless and In turn either
green or pinkish. Thus the tender
growth soon becomes crowded with
various sizes. colors and shapes OF
aphides: and to insure their progeny
with an adequate food supply the
wiugless mothers migrate to less
crowded growth and the winged ones
| fly TO other rosebushes. each starting
a colony for herself. Tn favorable
weather conditions, especially in a
humid atmosphere. many generations
may thus follow one another. covering
every bit OF green vegetation on the
bush with their bodies. their cast
skins, honeydew and the resulting
sooty fungus. The last generation OF
the season consists OF males as we'll as
females, the latter depositing the eggs
which over-winter on the rosebush.
thus completing the life cycle for the
year. II can easily be seen had every
| aphis produced i'm the course OF a sea-
son lived its full life the progeny OF
a single over-wintering would run in
to millions
The presence OF ants on the rose
bushes is an indication that the ahis
is present because the ants collect the
honeydew from .he aphides and. to
certain extent protect the aphides
from their insect enemies.
AS above indicated. the rose aphis
thrives best I'm cloudy, humid. warm
atmosphere. hence with the appear
ance OF hot and dry spell they often
disappear as suddenly as they appear
ed
Aside from a variety OF cause- like
driving rains, winds. etc, which deci-
mate its numbers considerably, the
rose aphis is attacked by other insects
which either devour It or develop from
eggs deposited in it's body.
Ladybirds, lace-wing flies, and the
larvae of two-winged flies called syr-
phus flies are among the former and
a number of special OF tiny wasp-Iike
insects represent the internal para
sites. Sometimes these natural agen-
cies OF control are sufficient to keep
| the aphides 50 reduced I'm numbers
that they do little or no harm. Not
withstanding the effectiveness OF nat
ural checks however, their intermit-
| tent character unfortunately renders
their help often too late to save the
flower crop. II is always advisable.
therefore, to watch rosebushes for
aphides and to apply remedies as soon
as they are discovered.
Fortunately the rose aphis readily
succumbs TO artificial methods OF con
troll and, with the different styles Of
spray pumps on the market, there is
no excuse for allowing roses 10 suffer
from these insects.
The simplest, most commonly used.
and often quite effective remedy IS TO
turn fine but forceful stream OF wa
ter on them by means Of the garden
hose. Applied often enough this gives
satisfactory results.
Solutions Of 6sh-oiI or cheaper
grades OF soap are often useful as a
prompt remedy The soap is used at
the rate Of I pound 70 4 gallons OF
water To make the solution shave
the soap into the water and dissolve
by heating adding enough water after
wards to make up for evaporation.
The best remedy for the rose aphls
is 40 per cent nicotine sulphate "a
liquid which can be purchased I'm most
seed stores) diluted at the rate OF
part 10 200 or 1000 parts OF water.
with nsh-oil soap or laundry soap
added at the rate Of I pound to 90
gallons Of the spray mixture. The
simplest way to prepare the spray in
small quantities and secure satisfac-
tory proportions Of the ingredients is
TO put J teasBognful OF the nicotine
suiphate in from 10 2 gailons Of
water and then add oue-haIf ounce OF
laundry soap. One spraying is usual
| iy 100 per cent effective, but n the
first application has not been thor
oughly made a second one may be nee
essary
In order to prevent the possible de-
vclopment OF mildew as a result OF
frequent spraying, 20 Is advisable to
make the application III che carIy
morning go that The spray will dry
on the plants promptly
The spraying device 10 use depends
ON the amount Of spraying necessary.
a cheap otomizer such as can be
bought in any seed store. is quite sat
isiactory for small plants and gardens.
Good snapsack and barrel pumps are