Currant is one of the most common berry crops in our latitudes. Valued gardeners for unpretentiousness in the care, lush, fragrant greens and delicious berries, rich in vitamins and microelements. For successful cultivation of crops should clarify how to deal with aphids on currants - a fairly common pest.
Did you know? Ants are peculiar patrons of aphids, because they feed on the pad which they secrete. Sometimes in winter they even put aphids in the anthill to keep them from the cold.
Aphids on currants: what the pest looks like
Aphid is a small insect (2-3 mm), settling on a currant, with a piercing-sucking mouth apparatus and two pairs of wings (winged individuals). The little body may have a light green, grayish-green or yellow-green color.
In spring, during the appearance of the first leaves, young insects hatch from overwintered eggs. Females quickly multiply without fertilization. Only female individuals are born. A colony of aphids is growing rapidly. When food becomes scarce, winged forms appear, migrating to neighboring bushes. In the fall males begin to be born. They fertilize females, and they lay eggs on the branches near the kidneys before the onset of cold weather. 
What is dangerous, signs of the appearance of aphids in the currants
Before you learn how to get rid of aphids on currants, you need to find out how it harms the culture.
Insect proboscis pierces the foliage of currants and young branches to feed on plant sap.
A large colony of aphids inhibits currants, it begins to languish, fall behind in growth, does not bear fruit, and eventually dies. Also aphids, feeding on sap, can tolerate viral diseases dangerous for the plant.
With aphids affecting white and red currants, characteristic swellings (galls) are visible on the leaves and branches of reddish color, and on the black foliage twisted into a straw. It is necessary to begin the fight with gallic aphids as soon as possible.
Ways to combat pest
The question of how to destroy aphids on currants is relevant for almost every summer resident. 
How to deal with aphids on currants, manual way
If a small number of insects are detected, they can simply be collected in a bucket with a wet rag and then destroyed. Damaged leaves with galls are also taken from the site. Also aphids can be rinsed with water from a hose.
Did you know? This method is not very effective if the colony of insects is large.Manual assembly requires a lot of time and physical strength from the gardener.
Gallic aphids on currants often require more serious control measures.
How to process currants from aphids, chemicals
Aphids can be removed on currants using modern insecticides:
- "Inta-Vir";
- Aktara;
- "Malathion";
- "Vofatoks";
- "Rovikurt";
- Kinmiks and others.
Important! It is not recommended to treat currants with insecticides later than a month before picking berries.
How to get rid of aphids on currants folk methods
Folk remedies for aphids currants are cheap, safe and quite effective. For example, for spraying, you can use a mixture of wood ash and tobacco (tobacco). 400 g of one and the second substance is stirred in 10 l of water.
The fight against aphids on currants folk remedies includes the use of a solution of soda ash (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water). In the tool add a little soap.
Successfully used for spraying the affected bushes and infusion of celandine. 3.5 kg of fresh raw materials for 24 hours, throw in 10 liters of water.
Important! When working, you must use a mask and gloves, because the juice of celandine is poisonous.Infusion of onion peel (0.2 kg) or plant feathers (3.5 kg) has good efficacy. Raw materials for several days pour 10 liters of water. Instead of onion peel and feathers, 3-4 finely chopped onions can be used.
One of the most effective ways to get rid of aphids is to use wood ash. 250 g of the substance is poured boiling water (1.5-2 l). After cooling, filter, add a little soap to the liquid and add the required amount of water. Should get 10 liters of funds.
Preventive measures
When aphids are detected in a currant, control measures may include both chemical and folk remedies, but it is better to take care of preventionwhich is to:
- treating seedlings before planting and land under bushes with a solution of ammonia (3-5 drops per half liter of water);
- loosening the soil near the bushes and between them;
- thorough cleaning of all plant residues at the end of the season;
- attracting natural enemies of aphids to the garden plot (small birds, ladybugs);
- planting near currant plants that scare away the pest (mint, parsley, onion, coriander, basil, tomatoes, garlic, dill, coriander, yarrow, tansy, marigolds).
