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3 Ways to Get Rid of Yellow Aphids on Hoya Plants

3 Ways to Get Rid of Yellow Aphids on Hoya Plants

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Hoyas are beautiful and exotic plants that add a decorative flare to any space. With stunning, bright colors, these flowers are always a joy to behold.

However, the last time you checked in on your flowers, you saw a little more than petals; you found a bunch of yellow aphids on hoya plants!

The next question on your mind is how to get rid of them. Well, there are a few ways to remove yellow aphids from hoya plants. This includes doing it manually, with pruning, or with dish soap.

Let’s take a look at what these tiny pests are and how you can control the population.

What Are Yellow Aphids?

These little bugs are members of the Aphididae family. They have soft bodies that have a distinct pear-like shape. Because of their heavy bodies, these pests tend to be slow on their feet and sedentary.

However, feet aren’t the only mode of transport these insects boast. Some aphids can have wings, but the majority are wingless.

Identifying these creepy crawlers is a little tricky. Even though they have a standard shape, yellow aphids have a few different forms.

In addition, yellow is one of many colors aphids can present. They also come in green, red, black, and brown shades. They share these forms and their colors with many other insects.

Still, yellow aphids do have a signature marker. On their backsides, there are cornicles, which are two tubular structures that stand straight up.

The bugs use cornicles to communicate with each other and scare away predators.

Why Do Yellow Aphids Gather Around Hoya Plants?

Just like most creatures, yellow aphids like to nest around an area with plenty of food. For tiny critters, nutrition usually comes from plants.

They like to feed on sugars from leaves, stems, or flowers. However, their favorite food is sap.

Unfortunately, since hoyas produce the sugary liquid, the bugs gather around them. They have straw-like mouths that allow them to pierce the flower and suck out the sap.

Can Yellow Aphids Damage a Hoya Plant?

Most people think that pests only damage the beauty of a plant. Yet, sometimes, they have much more severe negative effects.

Sap Depletion

As we mentioned, yellow aphids enjoy snacking on sap, which is also your hoya’s main food source.

The plant will produce sap to feed and fuel the different life processes. So, when aphids tap that source of energy, there’s less for the hoya to sustain itself.

This can cause major issues with the flower. It may lead to the formation of galls, stunted growth, and wilting.

Honeydew Layer

Not only do yellow aphids feed on the flower, but they also take more than their systems can handle.

These creepy crawlers enjoy eating more of their fair share of sap. When this happens, they make a sugary liquid of their own.

Honeydew is a fluid that aphids produce when they consume too much sugar. As the bugs travel around the plant, they secrete it everywhere they go.

This leaves your hoya with a sticky coating. The layer can cause mold to grow and attract other insects to the plant.

Infections

This is perhaps the most dangerous effect yellow aphids can have on a hoya plant.

Depending on their environment, these bugs are prone to mosaic viruses. The disease can cause color changes in the plant’s leaves and affect the way it produces food.

Over time, this may lead to the plant wilting away. In addition, it increases the chance of infection in other bugs and plants.

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Hoya Plants

Now that you know how damaging yellow aphids can be, let’s dive into how to get rid of them. There are a few different ways you can handle an aphid infestation.

1 – The Manual Method

The most basic method of removing aphids from a plant is doing it manually. You gently comb through every leaf and petal and check for bugs.

This is by far the safest way to deal with pests on a hoya. However, it’s not the most effective method. Yellow aphids are incredibly tiny, and while you can see them with the naked eye, they’re tough to spot.

In addition, you have to make sure you remove every trace of the creepy crawlers. Because of their high reproduction rates, a few critters can spark an infestation.

So, picking out every little bug and any eggs may prove impossible. On top of that, spending your time looking for insects isn’t exactly a relaxing afternoon.

2 – The Pruning Method

Pruning is an essential way of keeping your plants healthy and under control. Still, you can also use it to get rid of pests.

When yellow aphids find a new plant, they’ll find an area that has direct access to sap. Then, they tap the section and remain there until it dries up.

After that, aphids will move on to a different area on the Hoya. This loyalty to certain sections is terrible for your plant, but it makes removal easier.

All you have to do is prune the area where the bugs collect. Not only will this get rid of the critters, but it can also help your plant grow a new flower.

3 – The Dish Soap Method

Instead of manually removing the insects, you can use dish soap to keep them away. This method involves making a soap solution that you apply to your hoya regularly.

For the solution, all you’ll need is a cup of water and a few drops of soap. Once you have the solution ready, use an old toothbrush to carefully go over the plant.

Focus most of your time on areas where yellow aphids gather. You may have to do a couple of passes to ensure you spread the soap everywhere.

After the initial process, you’ll need to apply the soap solution every couple of days. Doing so for 2-3 weeks can help the Hoya repel the pests.

Final Thoughts

How do you get rid of yellow aphids on hoya plants? There are several ways you can go about removing the bugs.

You should start by identifying them with the cornicles on their backs. Once you do that, you can tackle the issue manually, with pruning, or with a little dish soap.

Good luck!

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