Aphids...where do they go, what happens to them?

Bernice H
by Bernice H
My Krauter plum was full of drippy aphids, this happens every year, doesnt seem to do any permanent harm to the tree, leaves look ok, but i just went out there, and they are all "gone". What happens to them, ??????
  10 answers
  • Becky H Becky H on Jul 26, 2012
    Or.........if they didn't fly off..............maybe some hungry ladybugs came along.
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jul 27, 2012
    Thanks for the info. interesting. I never saw any wings or flying off. But I havent looked in a few days, , so do I understand they all develop wings and fly off, then lay more daughters? If i was to inject an aphid poison, (have injected) it would be best in October or in Feb or March? What if I do nothing? Am I contributing to the pest situation? Is there any long term damage to my tree? Anyway, I would not get another Krauter plum again, so many suckers from the base, I cant keep up with them, then this sticky mess ! @And Becky I would have needed an ARMY of lady bugs, I think I saw three out there! why? This was a banquet, so many aphids, so few lady bugs!
  • Lisa T Lisa T on Jul 27, 2012
    Wasps also eat aphids... found this out a few years ago when our Oak Tree was infested with them... Big mess that caused!!!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 27, 2012
    A number of beneficial insects feed on aphids. I generally don't favor anything stronger than a good insecticidal soap for their control because that is least damaging to the good ones.
  • Becky H Becky H on Jul 27, 2012
    Douglas, that's why, whenever I need something, I use a systemic. Beneficial insects do not succumb to systemics either.
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jul 27, 2012
    Okey dokey...
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 28, 2012
    Good point, Becky.
  • Gail B Gail B on Jul 29, 2012
    Some good replies here; I was just going to say that perhaps lady birds came, or parasitic wasps; there are all kinds of beneficial insects. If you didn't apply any type of pesticide/systematic -- DON'T. They all kill beneficials as well, and it sounds like you don't need it anyway.
  • Vicki Wall Vicki Wall on Jul 31, 2012
    I also understand aphids don't like marigolds, so if you plant some around your tree, it should keep them away.