Aphids are sap sucking insects like greenfly and blackfly and can be found during spring and summer.

Check roses regularly from spring onwards so action can be taken before a damaging population has developed.

Can you see…

• green or pink insects on the flower buds, shoot tips and young foliage?
• flower buds and foliage covered in a sticky honeydew?
• black sooty moulds growing on the honeydew?

When choosing control options you can minimise harm to non-target animals by starting with the methods in the non-pesticide control section. Ladybirds are one of the main aphid predators so if you have any in your garden, this is a great way to control the aphid population. If this is not sufficient to reduce damage to acceptable levels then you may choose to use pesticides.