Who feeds on aphids

Aphids are small green or brown insects that settle on the underside of leaves of various vegetable crops, shrubs, flowers and trees. With the help of their proboscis, they suck juices from shoots, flowers and ovaries, harming them. Therefore, gardeners all spring and summer make every effort to fight parasites. But the enemies of these pests are not only people, so the story of who eats aphids will be interesting to all nature lovers and gardeners.

Predator insects

In nature, there are natural enemies of aphids, predatory insects and birds, for which it represents a diet. They can help a person in the fight against such insects.

The main lover of delicious aphids - ladybug and its larvae. Therefore, they are pest control assistants on the garden plot. According to scientists, one beetle is able to eat 50 aphids or its eggs per day.

Especially quickly destroy small parasites larvae ladybugswhich in appearance do not at all look like adults. They are gray-black in color and more flat in shape, have red-yellow spots on the sides, exceed their parents in size. Since they are still growing, they need to eat well. Each young individual that feeds on aphids is able to absorb 70-100 units per day, which brings great benefits to the garden.

Interesting!

Observations of biologists show that when the ladybugs attack, the entire colony of pests panics, an active movement begins, and many winged individuals appear, which in this way are saved from the attack of a predator.

In addition to colorful beetles, aphids form the basis of the diet for lacewings and sand wasps, which can eat 100-150 individuals per day.

Of the insects, aphids also eat those species for which it is food only when they meet: earwigs, cicadas, crickets, beetles, ground beetles and several species of spiders.

Important!

These types of insects are of great benefit to the garden, so before applying insecticides, gardeners should think about the fact that they will destroy not only pests, but also those who benefit.

Why do predators eat aphids

The insect eats aphids because it is a nutritious and nutritious product for them, which also releases glucose. Ants are very fond of sweet juice, however, they do not eat aphids, but contribute to its reproduction and settlement in neighboring plants.

Aphids breed very quickly and live in colonies, which facilitates access to a large amount of food for predators.

Birds - Aphid Enemies

In addition to insects, there are birds that eat aphids and use it to feed their chicks. These are sparrows, tits, chicks, etc.

To combat garden pests, beneficial insects and birds must be brought to the garden plot. For germs, dill, parsley and other sharp-smelling plants are sown; for earwigs, a pot of wood shavings is placed next to the plants affected by them, in which they will hide. Birdhouses, birdhouses, feeders and drinking bowls are arranged for birds, attracting them to the garden plot to combat harmful insects.