This year's harvests of cereals and other crops may be only slightly larger than last year's. This time, the reason is not drought, but an aphid infestation. Farmers from our region estimate that they could lose half their harvest because of aphids.
Moisture and warmth
Several days of favorable weather create perfect breeding conditions for these troublesome insects. Some cereal stalks are almost completely covered with insects and their larvae. The cereal aphid attacks plants by sucking out their sap, while leaving behind sticky excrement that provides nourishment for fungi and other parasites. It also often transmits viruses that cause stunting and, in the case of cereals, smaller ears.
Not just in the fields
Aphids also attack plants and trees in allotment gardens, and even flowers in balcony boxes. Many allotment gardeners complain that their dill has completely died off because of aphids, while fruit trees are covered with insects and their excrement. Those who did not apply the appropriate sprays in time should do so as soon as possible. Chemical or natural products can be used to combat the pests.