The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), feeds on over 300 species of plants and is found on cole crops worldwide. However, it does not cause serious damage on cole crops.

Aphid outbreaks and damaging populations of green peach aphid will usually occur only under dry hot weather. Under cool or humid conditions, their populations are usually kept in check by fungal pathogens. Feeding damage from large numbers of aphids can kill seedlings and young transplants.

On larger plants, feeding damage results in curling and yellowing leaves, stunting plant growth, and deforming developing heads. Contamination by dead aphids in the head or wrapper leaves can also be a problem. Dead aphids do not wash off easily and will cause a head to be unsuitable for fresh market sales.

Index of Crops

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Index of Insect Pests

Select this link to browse the insect pests arranged alphabetically with links to their descriptions and life cycle information and the crops they affect.