So our woven Rose of Sharon hedge has an infestation of black aphids. We have been spraying the hedge with a mixture of neem oil, soapy liquid and water but we’re not quite sure how effective it’s been.
The sap eating aphids target the new shoots, probably because they are the easiest to pierce so to help combat them we brought a few hundred ladybirds beetles (ladbugs in the US). They arrived today and we scattered them throughout our hedge. Hopefully they will like their new home and devour the aphids.
Came back the following day and all but three had buggered off to pastures new, not sure why they didn’t like our shrubs and aphids but we did seem some ladybird larvae (last photo), and they eat aphids so maybe all will be well.
FOR SALE
Large infestation of ladybugs.
Collection only
$5
Infestation of aphids not ladybirds!!!! Now I know what I’m getting you for Christmas!!!
Not sure about US but I have always used washing up liquid and water in a sprayer to get rid of horrible little bugs like aphids and black fly. Good luck
Cheers Chris, we will increase the soapy liquid content!!!!