Some gardeners try augmentation, or the release of a pest’s natural enemies, to control aphids. More research is needed to tell if this IPM strategy is effective in home gardens.

If you choose to use a pesticide, know that most kill beneficial insects too. This may make your pest problem worse. Select products least toxic to beneficial insects, such as soaps, oils, microbials and botanicals. Spray only where the infestation is and when beneficial insects are not present. Always read and follow label directions.

No matter your aphid control strategy, know a little stickiness in the garden is not a terrible thing. It can be a fond summertime memory in the making, such as enjoying a Popsicle or watermelon slice while watching lady beetles do their work.

Andrews, A. 2017, It’s Summertime in the Garden, and Plants are… Sticky?, Reno Gazette-Journal

Extension Associated Contacts

Loretta Singletary

Paul Verburg

Also of Interest:


The Fate of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Reclaimed Water Used for Irrigation of Agricultural Crops in Nevada This publication, which is part of a series, reports on experimental research to quantify the fate of Pharmaceuticals and Personal care Products in alfalfa and green wheatgrass irrigated with reclaimed water in a greenhouse setting. Busse, G., Verburg, P., Hanigan, D., Sharma, P., Yang, Y., Pagilla, K., & Singletary, L. 2021, Extension I University of Nevada, Reno, SP-21-07
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Alfalfa Irrigated With Reclaimed Water. Reclaiming Water for Urban Foodsheds integrates basic scientific research with Extension outreach to examine the feasibility of using reclaimed water for irrigated agriculture in urban environments. Funded by a grant [2017-69007-26309] from the USDA National Institute of Food and... Sharma, P., Pagilla, K., Hanigan, D., and Singletary, L. 2020, Extension I University of Nevada, Reno, Special Publication SP-20-05.
Reclaimed Water: Uses and Definitions Reclaimed water is commonly defined as treated municipal wastewater that is able to be used again, a practice known as water reuse. Municipal water reuse in the United States occurs mostly in California, Florida, Arizona and Texas; but it is growing in other states, including Nev... Ormerod, K.J., Redman, S., and Singletary, L. 2020, Extension I University of Nevada, Reno FS-20-34
Reclaiming Water for Urban Foodsheds: Program Overview Reclaiming Water for Urban Foodsheds integrates basic scientific research with Extension outreach to examine the feasibility of using reclaimed water resources for irrigated agriculture in urban environments. Pagilla, K., Hanigan, D., Yang, Y., Verburg, P., Sterle, K., and Singletary, L. 2019, Extension I University of Nevada, Reno, FS-19-08.
Detecting Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Uptake and Translocation in Lettuce to Enhance Food Safety Assessment. Reclaiming Water for Urban Foodsheds integrates basic scientific research with extension outreach to examine the feasibility of using reclaimed water resources for irrigated agriculture in urban environments. Yang, Y., Das, K., Barrios-Masias., F., and Singletary, L. 2018, Extension I University of Nevada, Reno, FS-18-03.

It’s Summertime in the Garden, and Plants are… Sticky?

Some gardeners try augmentation, or the release of a pest’s natural enemies, to control aphids. More research is needed to tell if this IPM strategy is effective in home gardens.

Published by: Andrews, A., 2017, It’s Summertime in the Garden, and Plants are… Sticky?, Reno Gazette-Journal