I second that. Ants don’t just move the aphids around to propagate them, but they defend them against aphid predators. I had a bad aphid problem with a young plum tree. I wrapped a three inch band of the trunk with plastic flagging tape to keep the tangle foot from touching the tree directly, and applied a ring of Tanglefoot over the tape. The gooey stuff blocked the ants, and within days the natural predators had wiped out the aphids. And the single ring of Tanglefoot protects for many months.
BTW: I did the same thing to block the earwigs that were attacking my nectarines at night.
It depends on the kind of aphid, I find that works perfectly on the black cherry aphids. They are a nightmare to control otherwise as they curl the leaves. All my cherry trunks get fresh tanglefoot bands every spring. The green plum aphids on the other hand the ants don’t farm and so the tanglefoot doesn’t help.
I hate aphids. But I hate having to apply chemicals too. So I let plants with tiny flowers go to seed. My current favorite is Celery or Celeraic. Flowers are about to open, and will continue all summer long. And those tiny flowers encourage tiny pollinators to stay around. Pollinators like syrphid flies. Which have babies who LOVE to eat aphids. And braconid wasps, which produce those “aphid mummies” we all want to see. It can be a shock to see an ugly fly larvae on your plants, but they are aphid eating monsters.
Black aphids appeared yesterday on my odom plum, I squished a bunch of them. More today, but I saw some ladybugs on the tree too. Usually the ladybug larvae do a good job of aphid control, but the aphids sure do seem early this year.
I’m having a big issue with aphids like never before. Usually I apply Tanglefoot on the tree trunk and never see Aphids after that. But this year despite Tanglefoot the tree tops are covered in Aphid.
Only thing I did differently this year is to bring in Spinosad to the spray program. Can this be the reason I’m covered in Aphids thisyear? Maybe Spinosad killed a bug that normally dines on Aphids? Just wondering.
On a bright side I saw 3-4 ladybugs working on the over population of Aphids.
Tanglfoot does not stop aphids. It stops the ants from climbing up the tree to harvest the honeydew they produce which is a good thing because ants protect the aphids from predators.
I’ve never used tanglefoot for ant/aphid control although I think it would help. When my trees/vines were younger I tried to stay after them with either soap/water and sometimes soap/neem/water. It was a constant battle to keep the sensitive tips free so they could develop. My trees/vines are a little older now and I have backed off trying to control them with sprays and turned most of the work over to my abundant amount of ladybugs.
I just did my third spray of neem, all 3 days apart. I did not see any ants in the trees on the third spray so i think i am good to go now. I will probably do one more for good measure. I had them worse than i have ever seen this year and i am glad my trees are growing like crazy.
Scott, I just learned something new about Black Cherry Aphids. Sadly, I learned it after I lost my tiny perfect cherry tree.
Once the aphids turn into adults, they fly to their summer host’s home. No other than beautiful Speedwell and Galium and one other. I have the first two in several places and the speedwell is at the foot of my cherries! 4 others were affected, but I saved them with lacewings, ant control and lady bugs. (And maybe some dead bug spray while I waited for predators)
I plan to remove my speedwell. I am waiting on the galium, because it is 40-50 feet away. I need to see how far the adults will fly.
You see, the adults return to their cherry trees in the fall to lay their eggs! I plan on disrupting this little travel plan. Stay tune for more!
This is Galium ( Woodruff) when it flowers. Woodruff https://g.co/kgs/D5upAC
There are many types of Galium, I confirmed on another source that black cherry aphids summer on Galium Oratum
Extremely long document: HOST LISTS and KEYS
Speedwell also called Veronica looks similar to salvia, but the leaves are very different: Veronica / Speedwells
I seriously hope my gallium is too far for black cherry aphids to fly to because I have a ton of it. I love it ( loved) it is about 50 feet away on the other side of a hedge from my Utah Cherries.
even though i don’t have black cherry aphids. And this thus does not directly apply to me. I want to thank you for this well sourced/referenced reply, when someone asked for a source. (others could follow your example in this )
Also explaining the mechanism (alternate host plants) is of large value.
If i run into problems with these i now know where to look. Thanks
I have 16 roses bushes! Do you like fruity smelling roses or the old tea rose Smell?
Do you like bush roses or climbing?
Here is a photo of one I grow that smells amazing. It is called Princess Alexandria of Kent. David Austin Roses sell it on their site. Local nurseries sell them too. Aphids have kept away from her.
Wow. It looks absolutely stunning. Honestly, I guess I did not know that there were fruit smelling roses. I guess I was seeking that kind of guttural connection between the olfactory lobe and the hippocampus, you know, the kind that gives you an instant trip back in time To when you were in grandmother’s Garden as a seven-year-old, enthralled.
So perhaps I would lean more towards the old fashion Rose Garden sent, but I would be interested in other fragrance as well. Thank you
)
I guess I was seeking that kind of guttural connection between the olfactory lobe and the hippocampus, you know, the kind that gives you an instant trip back in time To when you were in grandmother’s Garden as a seven-year-old, enthralled.