What is the best way to treat a Tennosui Asian Pear tree that has green aphids in the new/young leaves? From my searches on this forum, it sounds like I should use neem oil/hose the aphids off since it’s a small infestation. But I tried these things and it didn’t work. I just purchased it last year so it’s a small tree and I’m worried the whole tree could die from this infestation. Should I spray with Dominion 2L or something else? I’m worried about harming the bees in my area but I also don’t want to lose this tree. Thank you all for your advice!
For one tree, I would just take some isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab, dip it, and rub them off like you are cleaning dirt off a would. The alcohol dries out and kills their lil bodies. Do it in the am or pm not high noon sun. Some leaves are sensitive in the sun to alcohol drips on the leaves in the sun. Photosensitive so to speak. Then hose it if I missed any lightly to knock them off. They are a pretty minor pest in the big picture.
Make sure ants are not farming them for the aphid honeydew. Or they will be back by morning. You will see the ants going up and down the stem with aphid loads. Lol
I don’t know if this is the correct answer but last year I had aphids (a different kind with white wooly stuff) in one of my peach trees. I mixed a little Dr. Bronners castile soap in some water and sprayed the little buggers. Don’t know if it pissed them off and they left of if it killed them off but it solved my problem. That tree is also aphid free this year (so far). I have a pink lady apple that I just noticed them on yesterday so I will be doing the same thing for that tree.
Hope you can get your issue resolved quickly! Good Luck!
Trish
Thanks for the tips! I actually have seen ants. Do your recommendations change if there are ants? Thank you!
Yes, the ants need to be treated too. Your tree as a place to raise their aphids for tapping sugar in your tree. Like a living maple syrup tap so to speak. Silly smart ants.
I think borax sticky/syrupy baits work and are not toxic to us. The arsenic sticky baits work too, but I don’t know how I feel about loading that up in my baby tree roots. lol
But I have not had to battle them outside and would defer to others practical advice. For sure.
You may want to repost this in the pest Id thread. I am pretty sure there are some legit experts on here that could fill that rabbit hole better than me…
If the limbs are soft, i would put straight neem oil in a cup and dip it 
especially if it’s only the tips. Sometimes i pinch off and burn them too.
Ants can farm aphids and you can get rid of them pretty easily with borax or anything containing borax.
Im happy to try this but I actually cut the tips off about a month ago, and the aphids came back. Is there something more effective I could try?
I get aphids on all of my trees, along with ants. I find Tanglefoot to be an effective control. You could also try insecticidal soap; I think it’s pretty harmless to us.