Plant lice live on the sap of the fruit tree, usually sitting on the undersides of the leaves and piercing the leaf veins. They usually leave typical damage to the plants. Once the gardener has identified this, he can take the right countermeasures.
How do you get rid of lice on fruit trees?
To combat lice on fruit trees, remove them by hand or with a jet of water if the infestation is small. Cut back heavily infested parts or use preparations that are gentle on beneficial insects. Natural enemies such as hoverflies, parasitic wasps, ladybirds, lacewings and birds are also helpful.
Aphids
Of the many hundreds of aphid species in Europe, only a few are of horticultural importance. Some specialize in just one type of plant, others change hosts. Despite the name, the host range of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is particularly large. Aphids primarily damage the fruit tree by removing nourishing cell sap. But the release of toxic saliva also damages the tree.
malicious image
Deformities on leaves, shoots and fruits are typical. Young leaves in particular are full of mostly black aphids. However, the animals can also cause indirect damage to the plant by transmitting dangerous viruses. The excretion of honeydew, which covers the plant, and the associated settlement of black sooty mold fungi lead to further weakening, because the contaminated leaf parts prevent vital photosynthesis. Furthermore, aphids attract ants, which is why an aphid infestation is often only noticed when there are more ants.
Combat
If the infestation is small, removal by hand or with a hard jet of water is sufficient. Cutting back severely affected parts can also help. When fighting chemically, you should use preparations that are gentle on beneficial insects and have a selective effect (€9.00 on Amazon). However, aphids can also be easily controlled by natural enemies such as hoverflies, parasitic wasps, ladybirds, lacewings and birds.
mealybugs and mealybugs
Mealybugs and mealybugs are scale insects. They have an oval shape reminiscent of woodlice with waxy processes. Their white wax secretions can be very extensive. You can often recognize this “wax wool” on branches and on the main veins of the leaves. They damage the fruit tree by withdrawing cell sap and honeydew excretions. In addition, bulging growths often appear on the affected parts of the plant.
Combat
If the infestation is small, the animals can be brushed off or crushed and the wax wool can be hosed off. Otherwise, the possible measures for elimination are similar to those for aphids.
Tip
In addition to lice, other pests and fungal diseases often occur on fruit trees.