1
point
What are these insects on watermelon leaves?

Watermelon    Oklahoma, USA

This is the underside of a watermelon leaf. The black specks are not happy in the sunlight and are leaving as best they can. I did find a lady bug tending them on another leaf. The top of the leaf has a shiny substance on it, honeydew? If not aphids, what then? Thanks.


Posted by: Sandy Beadoin (2 points) Sandy Beadoin
Posted: August 4, 2014




Answers

0
points
Yup, that looks like an aphid infestation. The honeydew on the upper leaf surfaces is there because many aphid species kick the droplets away from their abdomen as they are produced and they will often end up on other parts of the plant or on the ground. The ladybugs are good news as they have voracious appetites and will happily munch on the infestation. Here's an answer I gave to another very similar question recently which describes what you can do to control them.

https://www.plantvillage.com/posts/16...


Posted by: Lindsay McMenemy (4 points) Lindsay McMenemy
Posted: August 5, 2014


Sandy Beadoin commented,
Thank you. Soapy water it will be.
over 9 years ago.



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