Community question
I have blackfly and sometimes greenfly on my roses, will ladybirds eat them? And how many do I need?
Open · asked by Gardener1
Tags: Ladybirds, aphids
✅ Verified by Biopredator
Blackfly and greenfly are both types of aphids, and yes, ladybirds are one of their best natural predators.
If you’re buying ladybirds, I’d usually recommend larvae rather than adults. The larvae can’t fly away, so they stay on the plant where you place them and immediately start feeding on aphids. Adults are excellent predators too, but because they can fly, they may move on if food is limited or they’re disturbed.
The aphids most commonly found on roses are the rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae), although other aphid species can sometimes be present too.
Don’t expect ladybirds to clear a heavy infestation overnight, but if there are plenty of aphids available, the larvae can eat large numbers as they grow. Interestingly, ladybirds are active both during the day and at night, so they’ll often continue feeding after you’ve gone to bed.
To give them the best chance of staying in your garden, avoid broad-spectrum insecticides and grow plenty of nectar-rich flowers to support other beneficial insects such as hoverflies and lacewings as well.
Biopredator · Admin