Aphids on the Loose in Your Landscape and Garden

Aphids overwinter on all sorts of plants in your yard and attacking plants primarily in the spring.
As soon as temperatures warm up these “mother” aphids start looking for places to feed and populate. They don’t need a mate to do this. They can just give birth to living young directly and bypass the mating rituals. If you look close on newly emerging “soft” tissue of plants you will most likely find them. Ladybird beetles (ladybugs) and green lacewings help but in sufficient numbers they can get out of control.

Aphids have populated this soft, succulent flower stalk of red yucca. The adult was probably overwintering in the leaf crevices of the plant, When the flower stalk emerged she began feeding and giving birth.

This is red yucca with an emerging flower stalk, taken about a week ago. If the mother aphid overwinters out of the cold in the leaf crevices this insect can “catch a ride” on this emerging plant part where tissue is soft and succulent. From there it is much easier feeding than on those tough old leathery leaves.

Aphid mother and young

Leaf curling on plum and aphids feeding along the new, soft stem growth.

Aphids feeding and reproducing on young pomegranate fruit.

Aphids feeding and reproducing on rose flower buds.

Insecticidal soaps work very well on aphids. No reason for hard pesticides. It may take a few applications but you will reduce their numbers significantly. Control ants too. They tend to move them about on different plant parts. Spray the undersides of leaves as well as the tops.