What do they look like? New shoots are smothered with tiny green aphids that suck the sap and cause wilting and lack of flower development. Tiny soft-bodied insects breed very rapidly and should be controlled. Watch for tiny green aphids inside the petals of tulips. They will damage the flower and spoil your display. Small colonies multiply rapidly in warm weather, and large infestations can develop in a number of days. Check your plants a couple of times a week at the beginning of warm weather so that aphids can be controlled when populations are relatively small.
What do they do? Check for golden aphids on Mandevilla, oleander and frangipani: any plant with milky sap. Check for black aphids on tamarillo, citrus and murraya. Unfortunately these persistent critters breed quickly in huge numbers because the live young can give birth to live young as they are fertilised at birth to reproduce. Ladybeetle larvae are a natural control for aphids as are hoverflies. Encourage the ladybirds into the garden.
How are they controlled? Spray with Maxguard, Rose Shield or Confidor, but not if rain is expected. Warning: Some sprays will kill beneficial bugs such as hoverflies, ladybeetles, dragonflies and the bees too. If you must use homemade chive, garlic or soap sprays, do it in the evening when all the bees have gone home. An organic control would be to spray with Natrasoap (Yates). Remove insects with gloved hand. Look out for natural predators such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps. Alternatively you could spray pyrethrum or Eco Oil.
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