| IT IS MARCH 12TH AND I ALREADY HAVE THESE LITTLE GREEN BUGS ON ONE OF MY ROSE BUSHES. THEY SEEM TO MAKE THE ROSES DRAW UP IN A KNOT. WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO TO GET THEM OFF AND KEEP THEM OFF? THEY REALLY DON'T LOOK LIKE BUGS, BUT THEY ARE SOME KIND OF MITE OR SOME INSECT. THEY ARE OBLONG SHAPED VERY TINY AND A BRIGHT LIME GREEN COLOR. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. |
| I expect you've discovered your first colony of aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck the juices out of plant tissues. They especially like tender new growth, (both leaves and flower buds) and are quite fond of roses. Wash the aphids off with a strong stream of water from the hose, and spray them off every time you see them. If you have a large enough population of aphids, eventually you'll attract beneficial insects that will feed upon the aphids. Lady Bugs are good garden allies and will eat hundreds of aphids. There are certain wasps that feed on aphids, as well. The best thing for you to do is provide lots of different kinds of flowers, that bloom at different times, so beneficial insects will want to live in your garden. In the meantime, hose those aphids off your roses before they do significant damage. |
