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Re Aphids

Madelin wrote:

>have time to dry.  Also, look for a very nice bug in your garden that 
>looks sort of like a lightning bug but without the light--brown, sort of 
>long (1/2 in) rectangular.  These seem to arrive in my garden just after 
>the aphids and they eat up every one.

Oh no!  Madelin!  I've been killing everyone of those boys I could find! 
I hope we're not talking about the same bug.  They seem to coincide with
holes showing up in my ornamentals.  Although it's true I've never seen
them eating anything in particular.  I'm originally from the east coast
where we did have lightning bugs.   I've always taken note of those brown
bugs because  when I first moved here I thought ( much to my
disappointment) that they were lightning bugs.   The bug I'm thinking of
has a bit of orange or reddish color on their body that is noticeable when
they start to fly off.  Does this sound like your aphid predator?

Geez, sure hope I haven't been killing off the calvary because the aphids
are getting pretty thick around here.  Thanks for the redwood mulch
suggestion. Today I got so fed up with the aphids that I just rubbed them
off with a tissue.....Gross but definitely effective!  I read on a web
page somewhere that aphid problems come from feeding with products that
give too high and too readily available a nitrogen boost to the roses.   
They suggested feeding from organic sources of nitrogen like alfalfa meal,
etc.  Does that ring true in any one else's experience.

Best wishes!

Asata
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