Vicki --

A buildup of aphids will generally attract a whole menagerie of
predators and parasites that come to take advantage of them. The
larvae of ladybird beetles are well-known predators on aphids, but
other predators include the larvae of lacewings (fast little guys
with big curved sucking mouthparts) and the larvae of certain syrphid
flies (lazy-looking whitish sacks that manage to hang out in the
aphid colonies). In addition, tiny parasitic wasps will lay eggs in
the aphids and turn them into mummies. If you see hardened discolored
opaque-looking aphid bodies among the living aphids, you are seeing
the mummified bodies of aphids that serve as chambers in which the
wasp larvae feed and grow. Add to this the fact that some ants feed
on the honeydew that aphids eject (liquid feces filled with sugars
and amino acids from the phloem aphids ingest). To safeguard their
honeydew source, the ants tend the aphids like cattle, and may defend
the aphids from their predators. Thus you may see battles between
the ants and the predators and parasites. A whole microcosm right
under our eyes. .... And at least in our yard, we often see
predation on the aphids by a truly MASSIVE predator -- Bushtits!

Jay Withgott
Portland, OR
withgott at comcast.net


At 4:31 PM -0700 6/6/06, Vicki Biltz wrote:
>Today I took a look at my Aphid Tree (weeping birch), to decide
>whether to bypass the soapy spray again (haven't ever sprayed this
>tree, and it manages to survive) this year, to deter the aphids. I
>was surprised on inspection to find not only Lady Beetles, a huge
>amount of larvae, but some flies, bees, and wasps, appearing to feed
>on the aphids. Of course I expect the Lady Beetles and Larvae, have
>had lots of them, but was surprised to see the other insects, and so
>many of them. Some of the bees appeared to be honey bees, which are
>all over my flowering plants at this time anyway.
>Any information on what insects, whether these or others that are
>not well known, would be appreciated.
>I am not going to treat the tree, and hesitate to even treat it in
>winter because of the Lady Beetle Larvae and eggs.
> On nesters, my Robins seem to have fledged already, with three
>babies, and the Chestnutback Chickadees should be almost done by
>now. Haven't seen the eaglets, but I know they are there, both
>parents are feeding them, I can see that activity at
>least. The Sapsucker has been chasing crows out of the neighbors
>area, and seems to be on patrol. The Bald Eagles cruise over our
>yards ever so slowly, and I fear for my neighbors Maltese; she lets
>it run too much....oh well, I did warn her twice now. That is all I
>can do.
>Vicki Biltz Bonney Lake Wa 98391
><mailto:vickibiltz at msn.com>vickibiltz at msn.com
>
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