I didn't really know where else to put this question, so I thought I'd ask here. I trimmed back some growth from the bottom of my birch trees. I laid the brush on the deck and yesterday my DH notices these green tiny bugs all over the trimmings!
I'm attaching the photo and I hope you can see these critters. If they are aphids, I'm probably in big trouble. How could there possibly be so many? This is just ONE small piece of a huge pile of trimmings!
One more picture to help see them better, perhaps?
Sure does look like them. Where's those ladybugs when they're needed???
I've also experienced the oleander aphid, which is positively scary -- bright orange-yellow with black legs!!
yep - but the nice thing about aphids is, they are easily made to go away with soapy water or ladybugs!
A nice stream of plain water will also knock them silly.
Disconcerting to see them like that, though, I agree!
Morph,
Unfortunately, those look like aphids.
I have been fighting aphids for months with all the wet weather. Frequent hosing has kept them manageable on most things. But I had to resort to systemic insecticides and insecticidal soap for my brugs, petunias, and calibrochoa. Unfortunately, they killed a couple of hanging baskets before I realized they were on my petunias and calibrochoa (I thought petunias were aphid resistant?).
This has been a really bad year for bugs - - I got things I've never seen before.
Good luck, Nat
Isn't that the truth, Nat?
Bugs, bugs and more bugs,
I can't keep 'em away,
no matter what I spray,
the rain washes it away!
I think I'd invest in some hungry ladybugs myself.
Here today, but not gone tomorrow
Bugs on my flowers, much to my sorrow
Spray them in the morning, hose them at night
Me and my pesticides......oh what a sight.
LOL aren't you sorry that you got me started! (it's all Vi's fault) Nat
Well, I'm saddened to hear this :( You just wouldn't believe the number of these creaturs on this pile! I wonder if I let them stay there, perhaps they will avoid the better stuff in the garden?
Now, on the other hand, I have these Praying Mantis egg cases just waiting to hatch ANY day now!!! Guess what they like to eat besides each other ~ aphids!!! I was wondering how to feed them, but now I know I have a great supply of aphids if they just hatch in time. I want to give the mantis a good start before letting them loose in the yard. And, if I use pesticides, I may kill the mantis.
Think I'll go check eBay for some ladybugs to see if I can order those for help, too...
Thanks, everyone, for helping confirm what I didn't want to believe!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that your praying mantis hatch soon. The good news is that aphids don't fly - - so they should stay put in that one area.
I only use pesticides when nothing else works, and even then I make every effort to protect the good bugs and the hummingbirds. I sprayed a couple of baskets last night and put them in the garage to dry for a day before putting them out.
I have resigned myself to lose somethings to the blasted Japanese beetles. It seems that controlling the bad bugs comes at a price to the good bugs and birds. So, I confine their control to a cup of soapy water.
