Aphids are outdoor pests. They are also unwelcome (indoor) guests. No homeowner wants aphids on their trailing philodendrons or ripening tomato plants. You don’t want to rip out that precious cucumber plant, with its rough, succulent stem that you had so carefully tended to during that late spring frost or toss that massive peace lily plant that your grandmother had given you when you graduated from college.
You must put an end to these pests and you must do so quickly. Understanding their life cycle is key. Being proactive is a necessity.
The life cycle of an aphid
Aphids can increase with great speed. Though a female aphid’s life is short, averaging around 25 days, her offspring, numbering in the 80s, carry on her legacy. These nymphs come into this world, mature into adults, and can start laying more eggs within 7 days time.
Their life cycle is mysterious and complicated. In the spring, a female gives birth to female nymphs without mating. You read it right. These babies are all female and she gives birth asexually—without a male. This mama aphid continues to give birth to female aphids throughout the spring and summer. These babes, all born live, are all basically clones of their mother. In the fall, though, a generation is born that grows into both female and male individuals. These siblings mate and the females lay fertilized winter eggs. Why eggs? Why now? Eggs are necessary, as they provide a more sturdy stage for the unborn nymphs to survive harsh winter weather. These nymphs hatch and one life cycle closes. The males simply die off and the females go on to produce more females.
If this cycle takes place indoors, there is no winter to slow their reproduction. The females can continue to reproduce nymphs without pause. This is not good news, as the aphid population can then quickly explode.
How to eliminate fast-reproducing aphids
To eliminate aphids, I recommend Dr. Killigan’s Insect Buster, which you fill with Dust to Dust. The Insect Buster greatly enhances the benefits of Dust to Dust on plants through its hyper-targeted application and precise distribution method. Dust To Dust, a safer more effective alternative to diatomaceous earth, with proven kill times of up to 50% faster, is safe for use around children and pets, though it is recommended that one lets the dust particles settle first, as overexposure can irritate both a person's lungs and skin. To keep your whole family safe, including your fur balls, it is best to avoid mainstream products, as they are often filled of toxic chemicals. This, though, does not mean that you have to settle for less-effective solutions.
One caveat: Dust to Dust is harmful to both bees and butterfly larvae, which we are adamant protectors of. Use Dust to Dust in the spring, when the aphid population is most fierce and before the bee populations have had their day. Another suggestion would be to cover the treated plants with netting until you've dealt with these speedily reproducing aphids.
Final word on how to get rid of aphids
Dr. Killigan’s Insect Buster is a tool that we should all have in our arsenal. It’s powerful killing effect, with the use of Dust to Dust, on aphids is only the beginning of its story of triumph and victory over many creepy crawlies that you’ll most likely come into contact with one day. See the Insect Buster's product guide for more information and enjoy your journey to a bug-free home.
