Are you wondering what those tiny yellow bugs in your plants are? Did you know that they can damage your plants? Knowing how you can eliminate these small yellow bugs is essential so that you can protect your plants and your overall garden.
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What are these Tiny Yellow Bugs?
The tiny yellow bugs that are roaming around your garden are known as Aphids. They are usually small and can survive in almost everywhere.
They also have the ability to multiply and controlling them quickly necessary before they start increasing. Fortunately for you, they are easy to control, and they move relatively slow, so eliminating them is easier.
For people who don’t know, these tiny yellow bugs measure one-fourth inches but still visible to the naked eye. There are other colors of aphids, depending on their species, including pink, light green, gray, brown, black, and white.
Their bodies are pear-shaped, and they have antennae that are long. These tiny yellow bugs usually feed in big groups but you can also see them feeding individually.
Damages that Tiny Yellow Bugs Can Do
Ruining the Leaves
Check the leaves if there are any yellowish colored ones, stunted, curling, or misshapen ones. You need to inspect the underside of all the leaves since these tiny yellow bugs love hiding there.
Fungal Growth on the Plant
Check if there are any sticky substances in the stems and the leaves. If you see some, then this is a sign that the tiny bugs have been there.
The reason behind this is because they produce a sugary liquid whenever they feed on something. The honeydew, on the other hand, can develop into a sooty mold, which will make the branches turn black.
Distorted Fruits and Flowers
Tiny yellow bugs can change the fruits and the flowers while they are feeding on it. This will make your fruits and flowers look ugly, which you surely don’t want to happen.
If you don’t want these things to happen to your plants and the fruits and flowers that you have, then knowing how you can eliminate them is essential.
How To Kill Tiny Yellow Bugs
Below are some of the ways on how you can get rid of these tiny yellow bugs.
Remove Aphids Physically
You can remove the tiny yellow bugs physically from the plants itself. Using a good pair of gloves, start pinching or brushing the bugs away from the leaves and stems.
If you notice that the infestation is focused to 1 or 2 branches or stalks, then pruning that part off would be essential. After pruning, pour a soapy water to kill the bugs.
Use Water Pressure to Remove Small Yellow Bugs
Using your garden hose and plugging it into your portable water pump, start spraying your bugs with water but make sure that this tip can cause problems with plants that are fragile and younger.
But the good thing is, it can be very effective when it comes to controlling the bugs’ populations on plants that are well established and the ones that are robust.
Use Neem Oil in Water
Dilute neem oil in water and start spraying them into plants that are infested with these yellow bugs. The chemical that is present in this oil will act as a repellent to yellow bugs and other pests, such as ants, leaf miners, beetles, cabbage worms, and mealy bugs.
Wash the Plant With Water and Soap
Another tip that you can do is using water and soap. Some detergents are mild, and they are usually perfect for eliminating these yellow bugs. In a small bucket of water, dilute a couple of tablespoon of dishwashing soap and start spraying the mixture on your plants.
The mixture will then dissolve the protective wax from the bodies of the bugs, which will then dehydrate them and kill them without you worrying about the plant.
Add Some Insects and Herbs
Some insects are beneficial for the plants, especially if the plants are being infested with tiny yellow bugs. Some of the beneficial insects are ladybug beetles and lacewings.
You can purchase these insects in gardening stores. You can also add some herbs that tiny bugs hate, including oregano, catnip, and garlic.
Or you can use plants that aphids love such mustard and nasturtium, to attract the tiny yellow bugs into the plant, so they can be eaten with the beneficial insects that you have added.
Using Insecticidal Soap
There are a lot of insecticide soaps in different garden stores today, and these soaps can help with the infestation of the tiny yellow bugs.
When using this product, just make sure to follow every written instruction included, so you won’t harm any other insects that are beneficial for your garden.
Using Some Essential Oils
You can also start using some essential oils, including rosemary, clove, peppermint, and thyme oils. Add 4 to 5 drops of each and mix it with water before transferring it to a bottle sprayer.
Once done, you can start spraying the plants that are infested. These essential oils will kill not only the pests but as well as the larvae and the eggs.
Encourage Birds in Your Garden
Another tip that you can do is to encourage the birds’ nesting around your garden, including titmice, chickadees, and wrens. You can effectively attract them by offering them a housing space and free food.
Typically, these types of birds prefer nesting in shrubs and smaller trees, which will help them to have cover. You can start planting abelia, hydrangeas, and other types of shrubs which birds will use to hide.
Use Some Natural Repellents
The organic compounds found in garlic and onions are hated by these tiny yellow bugs. Start growing these organic compounds in your garden and these bugs will surely be discouraged to even go near your plants.
These are the most effective ways on how to eliminate tiny yellow bugs in your garden in no time.
For more tips on getting rid of pests, check out our list below:
Start doing the above tips, and you will surely be able to have a tiny yellow bug-free garden. Your plants will also stay healthy and free from any diseases that these bugs carry.
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