The tops of the broad beans in our garden are infested with aphids that are breeding at a phenomenal rate in this hot weather.
The wingless forms stay more or less where they were born, sucking sap from the plant, while the winged forms disperse from plant to plant. There's a simple way to control infestations like this now that the beans have finished flowering - just break off the aphid-infested tops - but natural predators are also doing their bit.
If you take a close look at the top aphid in this group you'll see a white cylindrical object next to it: that's a hoverfly egg, one of many that have been laid amongst the aphid colonies. As soon as they hatch the hoverfly larvae have almost unlimited food within easy crawling distance. It only those aphids knew the horror that is about to be unleashed .....
You can see what happens next by clicking here.
Posts
