Many gardeners have discovered aphids in their garden.  There are more than 1,000 species of these soft-bodied insects, each with its own distinctive markings and characteristics.  The one thing that all of these species have in common is a deep love of things that grow; they love to eat and suck the juice out of almost any type of plant in your garden.

Discovering aphids can be very difficult, because some species of aphids are smaller than 1/8 of an inch.  Aphids usually have pale, light green bodies, most often found on the underside of leaves.  The best indicator of an aphid infestation is often the results of their eating; the leaves of plants that have been attacked by aphids often have yellow spots, and may wither completely, with the edges curling in toward one another.

As the aphids eat, they secrete a sticky sap called honeydew, which often attracts ants.  Aphids can be controlled many different ways.  One of the best natural methods of controlling an aphid infestation is by introducing predators, such as earwigs, wasps, lacewings, and ladybirds.  You can also combat aphids by spraying them directly with a solution of dish soap and water, or by shaking them off leaves into a cup or pan full of soapy water.

If these methods do not show good results for you, it may be time to consider a chemical alternative.  One of the best insecticides for aphids is acephate, which is applied directly to the leaves.  You can also choose to spray imidacloprid on leaves or apply it to the soil around your plants.  Another way to control aphids is to clean up dead vegetation around your garden, which will deprive the aphids of places to lay their eggs.