When Aphids Attack

The picture to the left (hoarked off the internet) is an example of the battle that's been raging in our front yard for a couple of months now, unbeknownst to us. I noticed that the leaves on our hedges were starting to get little bubbles on them, then a couple weeks later, they began to shrivel up and turn reddish brown. Thinking maybe there was some plant disease involved, I did some investigating this morning.

I looked at another bush in our yard and noticed it was covered with thousands of little white and black specs. I walked over to another area and noticed an unusual amount of ladybug activity. Looking closer I began to make out bunches of smaller critters moving about, obviously they were ladybug food... Aphids!!!

Those little suckers had been chewing on our plants and leaving their little leftovers all over the place. Luckily the ladybugs had moved in and started cleaning house, but they were still far outnumbered, and I don't think they could multiply fast enough.

After some deliberation, we decided the best plan of attack was to chop off the first layer of shriveled leaves, exposing the healthy green inner layer, then hose down the really nasty areas to knock off the aphid "remains", then follow up with some bug spray for plants (we'd tried soapy water in the past, but it didn't do anything).

I began hacking away with the electric hedge trimmer, and noticed that I was not only being sprayed with leaf parts, but also thousands of confused insects... what a great experience. Apparently, the bugs weren't done fleeing when Jenna got to them with the spray, because the same thing happened to her as she sprayed the bushes.

But we both pushed on and got the job done despite the grossness, and walked away covered from head to toe in tiny bugs, both dead and alive. We are confident, however, that our efforts helped turn the tide for the ladybugs. We will survey the battlefield tomorrow to observe the progress.

On that note I'd also like to take a moment to recognize the efforts of the brave ladybugs that gave their lives in the aphid battle, as I can't guarantee that the hedge-trimmer/bug spray combination didn't involve some friendly-fire casualties. Their service to their yard will not have been in vain.

We will win this war.

We will indeed.