Arthropod pests
Root Aphids
Root-feeding aphids can be difficult to detect because much of the population lives below the canopy. Declining vigor alone is not diagnostic; confirmation requires root-zone inspection and identification of the organism.
What to look for
- Small aphid-like insects on roots, container walls, or near drainage openings
- Waxy residue or colonies in protected root-zone spaces
- Winged forms appearing on monitoring cards during dispersal
- Unexplained decline that coincides with confirmed root-zone insects
Important look-alikes
- Fungus gnat larvae
- Springtails and other harmless substrate arthropods
- Root disease
- Low oxygen, salinity, or irrigation stress
How to confirm
- Inspect representative roots and container edges under magnification
- Collect specimens for reliable identification
- Compare symptomatic and apparently healthy plants
- Use sticky cards only as supplemental evidence for winged forms
Management principles
- Separate confirmed infested material
- Avoid moving contaminated substrate or runoff between zones
- Use an IPM plan matched to the identified pest and crop system
- Track root-zone and aerial population signals over time
Prevention
- Quarantine incoming rooted material
- Sanitize reusable containers and work areas
- Avoid cross-zone runoff
- Maintain lot identity for propagation material
Visual study guide
- Root aphid versus fungus gnat larva plate
- Root-zone inspection diagram
- Winged versus wingless aphid comparison
- Contamination pathway map