Red Aphids, Where are the Dern Ants?

Well. Ray and Crumby have been watching the red aphids on the verb virgin for a piece. So far, no ants have come to the aid of the red aphids. Yet the red aphids reproduce far in advance of the predators. Like it would be impossible for the lady bugs to keep up. Those lady bugs would need to be super pigs to keep up even marginally. Mercy! Here’s what we mean. Goodness gracious sakes alive!




Lady bug larva sucking a big, fat, juicy aphid dry.












Cycloneda munda is the most common aphid predator in this part.











Yet. Keeping these red aphid vermin in check is a multi-species effort. Hopeless nonetheless.