Winter aphids
by Bethany Abrahamson “Different insects vary as to the manner of passing winter,” begins noted Agricultural Hall of Famer and original green chile advocate Fabián García, in a bulletin for the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts back in 1908 (p. 7). One pest García mentioned that can survive the winter both in egg and adult life stages is the cabbage aphid ( Brevicoryne brassicae ), which García referred to as “one of our cabbage enemies”. Cabbage aphids appear gray, about 2mm long, with short horns on their backs. The cabbage enemy. Photo credit: Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org. CC BY 3.0 US Aphids are one of my favorite insects because of their cute pear-shaped bodies and, in the case of the cabbage aphid, the way they look like fluffy little sheep due to their waxy coating. Unfortunately what they do to gardens is less cute. Aphids can vector diseases, and the honeydew they leave behind can attract other pests such as ants. Cabbage ap...