By Luke Sumpter


Growing cannabis comes with a host of benefits. The act of tending to your plants brings about a state of inner peace and smoking your flowers offers serious satisfaction. But make no mistake, cultivating the herb also means a set of challenges, including pest infestations. Root aphids are one of the biggest threats to cannabis plants and can strike in any growing environment. These pests leech nutrients out of cannabis roots—a vital anatomical component needed for nutrient and water uptake. Despite their small size and unintimidating demeanour, these critters can cause a lot of damage and, ultimately, reduce yields.

To take on root aphids, we recommend following the advice of the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu who famously advised strategists to “know thy enemy”. Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about root aphids—how to detect their presence, how to treat affected plants, and how to prevent attacks altogether.

What Are Root Aphids?

If you’ve grown cannabis before, or any plant for that matter, you’ve probably come across aphids. These ravenous creatures have quite the appetite for the sap in leaves and stems of brussels sprouts, kale, and other veg. However, these common pests differ slightly from root aphids, which linger under the soil line and feed on sap from the roots of cannabis and other edible crops.

The rice root aphid (Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis) proves especially problematic for cannabis plants. This species is dark green and has a round body shape. They share an almost identical appearance to above-ground aphids. However, their darker color and shorter legs and antennae help identify them.

Root aphids start their life off without wings, and many of them never develop them at all. However, once the population grows too large or the plant becomes too destroyed, members of the colony will develop wings, migrate to a new host plant, and lay the foundation for a new colony.

This species attacks cannabis plants frequently, and in the United States entomologists receive queries[1] about this pest on a daily basis. But root aphids don’t only go after cannabis. You might also see signs of their presence in your squash and pepper plants.

Don’t mistake them with root maggots, which are the larvae of several species of root maggot flies. They chomp on cannabis roots and can also cause serious damage.

How to Detect Root Aphid Damage

Now you know that these aphids like to linger in the root zone. But what exactly do they do there? Simply put, they feast! These pests possess specialized mouthparts that allow them to penetrate roots and suck out sugar-rich sap.

As you’re aware, plants depend on their roots for survival, since they work to uptake vital nutrients and water. They also act as an interface with beneficial biology within the soil. Cannabis plant roots form relationships with species of bacteria and fungi. These organisms provide freeform nutrients, and plants give them sugars in return. However, a root aphid invasion disrupts these important processes.

It doesn’t take long for them to inflict damage; rice root aphid population can double every 1.6 days (in optimal conditions). Oh, and root aphids don’t just lurk in the soil. They have a wide host range and are also frequently found on cannabis plant roots grown in hydroponic and aeroponic systems, both indoors and outdoors.

What does a root aphid invasion look like? The first tell-tale signs are yellow leaves and slowed growth—symptoms suggesting that your plants aren’t getting all of the nutrients they need from the soil. If you spot these signs, and you've established that your feeding regime and pH are not to blame, you’ll want to take a closer look at the root zone.

Gently dig down into the soil near the stem until you uncover part of the root ball. If your plants are under attack, you’ll notice white and waxy covering over the roots—a classic sign of the species’ presence. You might also come across high levels of ant activity near the base of your plants, as they feed on the honeydew that root aphids excrete.

If you spot the signs of a root aphid infestation, fear not! Find out how to treat your plants and prevent the species from attacking again in the future.

Root Aphids

How to Treat a Root Aphid Infestation

Root aphids can cause real issues in the cannabis garden or grow room. Thankfully, there are several methods that work quite well in treating infestations. If you're wondering how to kill root aphids, check out some of the most effective techniques below.

  • Conventional Pesticides: Are They Worth It?

Some cultivators reach straight for a bottle of pesticide to eliminate root aphids. These products are designed to kill insects, after all. Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid attack the central nervous system of insects and do a good job of wiping them out. Insect growth regulators that contain fenoxycarb keep insects locked in their juvenile stage and prevent them from developing.

Although effective, these methods are not organic. These chemicals can work their way into your finished product, damage beneficial insect life in your garden, and spill out into your local environment. At Royal Queen Seeds, we love the organic approach that benefits the grower and the environment. Check out the options below for nature-friendly alternatives.

  • Nematodes

Have you ever heard of nematodes? These worm-like creatures help to make up the soil food web. Researchers believe there are over 25,000 different nematode species. While some of these attack plant roots, others actively hunt and kill root zone pests. Known as entomopathogenic nematodes, these microscopic allies kill insects such as root aphids by entering the guts of the larvae. You can purchase these root aphid killers from most plant outlets and growing stores.

Root Aphids
  • Fungi

Some fungi also have an appetite for insects. The species Beauveria bassiana grows naturally in the soils of the world and prevents certain insect populations from growing out of control. It targets arthropod pests such as aphids and causes white muscardine disease. You can purchase some garden preparations that feature this fungus as an active ingredient.

Root Aphids
  • Neem Oil

Trusty neem oil also serves as a weapon against root aphids. It contains the natural pesticide azadirachtin that works as an antifeedant, repellent, and insect growth regulator. Apply as a root drench according to the product's instructions.

Root Aphids

How to Prevent Root Aphid Damage When Growing Cannabis

Root aphids can strike just about anywhere, from indoor hydroponic grows to outdoor garden beds. While treatments are sometimes effective when dealing with an infestation, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent this pest altogether.

  • Keep Your Tools and Environment Clean

Make sure you sterilise your gardening equipment and reusable containers, and that you keep your environment spotless. Avoid cross-contamination from other plants, especially if you notice the problem in any of your plants.

  • Pre-Emptive Measures

Entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes are great at taking down root aphid larvae. If you think your plants are at risk, why not simply add these lifeforms to your soil? Doing so will introduce a microscopic patrolling force that might help repel an invasion.

  • Sticky Traps

Yellow sticky traps can help identify early signs of a root aphid problem. Lay them down over your garden and grow room and check them regularly. If you notice any root aphids stuck to the traps, proceed with the treatments above as soon as possible to minimise any damage.

  • Be Proactive

Vigilance is key! Check your plants’ roots from time to time for any signs of root aphids. This way you might be able to catch an infestation before it makes visible damage.

External Resources:
  1. Rice Root Aphid: An Insect Surprise on Indoor-Grown Cannabis https://entomologytoday.org
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: