Aphids

[Moggle]

I have aphids on my rosemary plant. Don't know if they hitched a ride from B&Q or if they found their own way here.
Do they do a lot of damage? How do I get rid of them?
Thanks
Moggle

[Moggle]

[ALAN HOWELL]

Hi..... :)

the organic way is to blast them with soapy water from a sprayer,the inorganic way is an Aphid spray from "Wilko's" etc......Alan

[allotment_chick]

..er the squeamish should click the 'back' button now   :-\


I squash them by rubbing them out between thumb and forefinger - wear gloves if necessary.  Very effective if somewhat gruesome.

Perhaps I'd better not tell you what I do to slugs......  :o
AC

[tim]

- and then you EAT the stuf?? =Tim

[allotment_chick]

Never heard of washing things before you eat them Tim?  Mostly I find the aphids aren't on the edible bits.  Can't be worse for you than the chemicals in bug spray!  Anyway - if it was good enough for Geoff Hamilton, it's good enough for me
AC

[cleo]

squishing is OK for tough things like established rosemary,for softer plants like baby peppers a dose of some type of soft soap is better.

The key is to keep an eye open and noble the blighters as soon as they appear.

Stephan.

[allotment_chick]

Wise words, Stephan - I did the deed on some beasties on some Cerinthe and the leaves where the blighters were are looking a little sad.

[Moggle]

Thanks all for the advice.
I have tried squishing, but there are so many that I think I will have to try the soapy water thing. Also I am a bit of a wimp and looking at so many little creepy crawlies makes me feel a bit icky.  :-\
Is it ladybirds that eat aphids?

[allotment_chick]

Hi Moggle - yes ladybirds and their larvae and lacewing larvae too.
AC

[Moggle]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Have squished and soaped the rosemary, then found that the most severe infestation is on the daisy/crysanthemum plant next to it. This was only a bedding plant that didn't die at the end of last year, and is looking tall and ugly this year, so I think it is bye bye crysanthemum and hopefully bye bye aphids too. :P