Posts Tagged: rose bushes

In a matter of days, the aphids discovered our newly purchased rose bushes.

They clustered around the buds and unfolding leaves, piercing the tender stems and sucking the plant juices as if there were no tomorrow.

For some of them, there would be no tomorrow.

A ladybug arrived and began feasting on the colony of aphids, like a 10-year-old kid with a bag of french fries from a fast food place.

She gobbled the aphids and then, satiated, off she flew.

With spray from a garden hose, we knocked the aphids off.

Something tells me the aphids will be back.

But so will the ladybugs.

Aphids on Rose Bush

APHIDS ON A ROSE BUSH--Aphids suck plant juices, as these are doing here. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Not a Rosy Situation

THIS IS NOT A ROSY SITUATION--Scores of aphids run up and down the stem of a rose bush, sucking plant juices. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Feast for One

FEAST FOR ONE--A ladybug chows down an aphid. Nearby aphids seem unaware of the predator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Leaf Sitter

LEAF SITTER--The ladybug crawls out to the end of a rose leaf and scoops up an aphid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 5:14 PM