I have a rather unruly rose bush which has grown and thrived in my yard for a decade without much intention or intervention from me – but I would like her to stick around. I mostly just give her a trim now and then when she starts peeking up over the fence. She recently burst into bloom and gained a good two to three feet, so she's not dying – that being said, I was a bit alarmed by the biome that has developed since I last checked up on her.
I've done my best to identify all of the new critters – green aphids for sure, and ladybug larvae. I read that ladybugs prey on aphids and can sometimes take care of an infestation naturally. However, there is also a heavy presence of these thin white cotton strands on the leaves and buds. I think they might be mealyworm larvae but I'm not sure – they don't move, and I haven't found any fully grown mealyworms. I know you're meant to wipe down the leaves with rubbing alcohol, but this is a massive plant with lots of small leaves and lots of these little fuzzies.
My question for the plant doctors is this: how do I treat both infestations at once? Is there a practical way to treat the (possible) mealyworm without disturbing the ladybug larvae? Or are there any treatments that could knock out aphids and mealyworms in one go?
by Prinnia
7 Comments
My question to you is: how can you tell what you’re dealing with? I’m in the middle of an infestation of what I think is Mealy bugs. I doused it in Captain Jack’s and it seemed to get worse within 24 hours. I can’t even tell what they are so I don’t know how you can, especially when there’s so many.
I dont see any mealybugs, its just shed from the aphids. I dont think you can do anything to the aphids without harming the ladybug larva
Lady bird larvae are brilliant and eat zillions. They are a friend. Aphids look like they have been got mostly. Use fine rose hose or watering can and gloves hands to remove aphid residue
https://preview.redd.it/rc9prvjisowe1.jpeg?width=849&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3c56dfe11af871b03cb93c03aa4224c943a12c7
Here you go!
Stand back and cheer on the ladybugs, mate
Aren’t the whole point of ladybugs that they eat the other ones? If she’s thriving I would say just wait it out
Ladybirds are ON IT. If it’s outdoors small birds will snack on the little green gits too.
I wouldn’t do anything unless the populations becomes REALLY concentrated. If that happens try and find something similar to Bugclear Ultra Fruit and Veg, which is just emulsified rapeseed oil. Not a chemical insecticide, because that will do in your natural predators. Something such as rapeseed oil will get the aphids you spray it on but not harm anything else (as long as you don’t directly spray it on them, do not directly spray it on the ladybirds).
As long as they’re fairly dispersed like they are in this photo though I’d just leave the predators to it and not intervene.