Little black bugs destroy chives?

Question: I have a giant pot of chives and they started out doing very well again this year. Now they are covered with little black bugs! What should I do?

responder: Answered by the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit theHGIC program web page and blog,Maryland Grows. Replied April 24, 2023, 1:52 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your question Brianna, Your chives look like they are infested with black aphids. Many gardens host some aphids. On healthy plants, they don't cause much harm, and beneficial insects, including ladybugs and parasitic wasps, keep them in check. Aphids can become more of a problem when the plants are stressed by drought, poor soil conditions, overwintering or overcrowding. Unfortunately, aphids can reproduce at amazing speed and a large colony that can literally suck the life out of your plants. The key to dealing with them is knowing when you need to take action, and then having the right tricks up your sleeve to keep them under control. How to Identify Aphids: Often the first sign of an aphid infestation is twisted and curled leaves, yellowing foliage, stunted or dead shoots, and sluggish plant growth. Damage is usually most noticeable on shoot tips and new growth, along with unopened flower buds. When you take a closer look at these damaged plant parts, particularly on the undersides of young leaves and developing stems, you'll likely find lots of aphids crowded together. Aphids range in color from green to yellow, brown, red, or even black. Aphids cause damage by sucking sap from tender plant parts. As they feast, they excrete a sugary substance called honeydew. A fungus called sooty mold grows on the honeydew and blocks light from your plant, but is otherwise harmless. You can wash your plant leaves with water to get rid of the honeydew and sooty mold. How to Get Rid of Aphids: When an aphid population explodes and begins to cause noticeable damage to leaves, stems, and buds, it's time to act right away. The sooner you can deal with the infestation, the better chance you have of eliminating or controlling the aphids. Spray with Water: The safest and fastest way to control aphids is to spray them off your plants with a strong stream of water from the garden hose. Aphids are easily knocked off plants and once they are knocked off a plant, they rarely climb back on. Insecticidal Soaps and Horticultural Oils: These controls are low-risk to people and the environment and can be applied to food crops. They'll kill aphids, but must be applied on a regular basis during heavy infestations, since aphids reproduce so quickly. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils only kill aphids when they come in direct contact, so you'll need to spray both tops and undersides of leaves and reapply frequently until the pests are completely gone. Keep in mind that insecticidal soaps and horticultural oil will kill beneficial insects as well, so only apply it to target pests. Crush Aphids with Your Fingers: If the infestation isn't too heavy, you can squash aphids by gently rubbing your thumb and fingertips over your plants' leaves and stems wherever you see aphids. Check back every few days to see if you need to repeat the procedure. How to Prevent Aphids: Preventing large numbers of aphids from making themselves at home is possible. In addition to making sure your plants have the water, light, and nutrients they need, here are a few more ways to help keep aphid numbers down. Remove dead stems and weeds from around the plants. You can cover plants with a barrier to insects (like cheese cloth or row covers). You can also grow certain plants nearby to attract beneficial insects like lady bugs which eat aphids (plants like marigolds,calendula, sunflower, daisy, alyssum, or dill). For more information about aphids and treatment I would refer you to two excellent reviews available on the web: one from the University of California and the other from Louisania State University.  http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7404.html www.lsu.edu%2Fdepartments%2Fentomology%2Fassets%2Faphidparasitoids.pdf&psig=AOvVaw2f_F_9v7U87MSX7mf0kjh0&ust=<personal data hidden>41503" class="redactor-autoparser-object">https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAQQw7AJahcKEwjog-bjgsP-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lsu.edu%2Fdepartments%2Fentomology%2Fassets%2Faphidparasitoids.pdf&psig=AOvVaw2f_F_9v7U87MSX7mf0kjh0&ust=<personal data hidden>41503 If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Bob

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 20, 2023, 7:26 AM EDT
response: Hello, since my chives are infested with black aphids, if I get rid of the chives, can I plant something else or will those be infested by black aphids as well? I was thinking, parsley, thyme , or marigolds. Or something else.Thank you for your time.On Mon, Apr 24, 2023 at 1:52 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit theHGIC program web page and blog,Maryland Grows. Replied May 20, 2023, 8:36 AM EDT
response: Hi Brianna, it is good to hear from you again and thank you for your question. The short answer is that I think that thyme and marigolds are unlikely to be a favored plant. Especially since marigolds attract lady bugs which are a natural predator of aphids. I am less sure about parsley, but I think that the risk of removing the affected onions and replanting with a different crop is probably safe. Especially if you start with seedlings and not seeds. Aphids prefer young leaves to established leaves when feeding.  The long answer is that the black aphid can feed on a wide variety of host plants (over 200 species). Its primary hosts on which the eggs overwinter are shrubs such as the spindle tree (Euonymus europeaus), Viburnum, or the mock-orange. Secondary hosts, on which it spends the summer, include a number of crops the most common of which include sugar beets, spinach, beans, onions, runner beans, celery, potatoes, sunflowers, carrots, artichokes, tobacco, and tomatoes. Among wild plants, black aphids show a preference for poppies, burdock, fat-hen, saltbush, chamomile, thistles, and docks.  Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.  Happy gardening. Bob

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 20, 2023, 10:08 AM EDT
response: Wow, Bob! Thank you for your speedy response! I think I will go buy my marigolds, and perhaps some herbs to plant, from the farmers market this morning. Cheers!On Sat, May 20, 2023 at 8:36 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: