Ladybugs for green peach aphid
Kentucky Extension says a single lady beetle may eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, and the larvae stay where the aphids are while the adults move on once prey gets scarce. Bought adults are a different proposition. They are collected wild from overwintering aggregations, and UC IPM says most fly away within one or two days of release, even when aphids are plentiful. Flowering plants nearby, and not spraying, are what keep the resident ones working.
Before you act
Everyone's first idea for aphids, and the one beneficial where buying is usually the wrong move. The ladybugs sold by the tub are convergent lady beetles collected from the wild, and UC IPM says most fly away within a day or two of release, even when aphids are plentiful. The larvae do much of the eating, and they turn up on their own wherever there are aphids. How to recognise it, what it is confused with and how to keep it around are on the full Ladybugs profile.
Other controls for green peach aphid
- Aphidius colemaniParasitoid wasp · 0.25–4 /m² per release, at least three releases
- Aphidoletes aphidimyzaPredatory midge · 1–10 /m² per release, weekly
- Chrysoperla carneaGreen lacewing larvae · 2–20 /m² per release, weekly
- HoverfliesWild predator (larvae) · Wild — attract adults with open flowers
- Aphelinus abdominalisParasitoid wasp · 0.25–4 /m² per release, repeated
- Chrysoperla rufilabrisGreen lacewing larvae · 1–5 larvae /sq ft (about 11–54 /m²) per release
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHAMicrobial insecticide (fungus) · Label rate — ½–1 qt per 100 gal (BotaniGard ES / Mycotrol ES) or ½–1 lb (22WP)