Thousands of Red Bugs Are on My Rose Bush
A common rose bush pest, the aphid reproduces asexually to bear live young. One day the rose bush may only have a few insects and the next day it will be covered with thousands of red, green, brown, yellow or black aphids. Does this Spark an idea?
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Damage Effects
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Aphids suck the nutrients from the rose bush using their piercing mouth to attack to the plant's stems and foliage. Once attached to the plant, the insects suck the sap of the plant and secrete a honeydew substance from their bodies that allows a black sooty mold to grow on the rose bush.
Identification
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The rose bush's foliage will begin to wilt, curl and yellow. New growth is stunted and blossoms often do not open, and appear deformed. The aphids congregate in large colonies along the rose bush's new growth, stems and just beneath the buds, according to the Oregon State University.
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Control
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Large colonies of aphids are easily washed from the rose bush using a strong blast of water from the hose or wiping them away with a soft cloth. As new aphids appear, repeat the process to gain control over the colony.
Prevention/Solution
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Purchasing lady bugs from a garden supply store will help prevent and control aphid colonies. Lady bugs adore feeding on the aphids and are the aphid's natural enemy, according to the University of California. The ladybugs do no damage to the rose bush.
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References
- University of California: Aphids
- Texas A&M University: Managing Insects and Related Pests of Roses
- Oregon State University: Controlling Diseases and Aphids on your Roses
- University of California: Roses: Insect and Mite Pests and Beneficials
- Roses and Everything About Them: Good Insects and Animals For Roses
Resources
- Photo Credit rose bush image by Yurok Aleksandrovich from Fotolia.com
