What Are the Red Dots on the Underside of Swedish Ivy Leaves?

Identification

• Aphids are insects most often seen underneath plant leaves. These pests are common in houseplants, as well as outdoor plants. Aphids come in a variety of colors including red, pink, green, black or brown. Swedish ivy with aphid infestations may have tiny red dots on the undersides of plant leaves. Aphids are usually 1/16 to 1/8 inches long and have a single antenna. Certain aphids are wingless and some have translucent wings.

Signs And Symptoms

• Aphids are usually found along the stems of Swedish ivy or are gathered in colonies on the underside of succulent new growth. These insects damage the foliage of infested plants when they place their mouth-parts into the foliage and remove plant sap, causing yellow or white speckles to appear on the top sides of plant leaves. Ivy leaves may eventually become curled or distorted if aphids feed for extended periods of time. Aphids often carry viruses that are transmitted to plants when they pierce leaves to feed. The presence of black fungus called sooty mold on plant leaves is a sign of aphid infestation. When aphids consume plant sap, it causes them to excrete a gooey substance called "honeydew" that adheres to plant leaves. Once honeydew is present, sooty mold fungi sticks to it and grows causing the plant to become covered in fungus. Sooty mold is primarily cosmetic and does not damage the foliage or overall plant health.

Removal

• Wiping your Swedish ivy with a soft cloth each day may remove aphids from the foliage. Soaking a cotton ball in alcohol and wiping aphids away is another way to remove them from your houseplants. Large numbers of aphids are a bit more challenging to remove. Placing your Swedish ivy in the shower and running a hard stream of water on the foliage is more effective for large populations of insects. If aphids are difficult to control or causing extensive damage to your plants, you can purchase horticultural oils to kill them. Oil products work best when the foliage of infested plants are thoroughly coated, as they must coat the insects to kill them.

Prevention

• Avoid applying nitrogen rich fertilizers to your Swedish ivy, as this promotes aphid infestations. A variety of natural predatory insects feed on aphids. Placing beneficial insects on your houseplants can prevent heavy infestations of damaging pests. A few examples of predatory insects are lady beetles and aphis lions. Avoid using insecticides on your houseplants if predatory insects are present. Killing beneficial insects may actually cause a spike in aphid population. Inspect any new plants before bringing them inside for signs of aphids, as they can spread to other houseplants.