What Eats Aphids? Natural Pest Hunters

Aphids are sap suckers that destroy plants and vegetation. But nature has a balance to everything – and as aphids eat plants, there are those that eat them too. So, what eats aphids? Let’s find out.

Aphids are tiny sap-sucking bugs that are dreaded common plant pests. So, protecting your plants from the aphid population is very important. But how would you do that?

Thankfully, these insect species have some natural enemies, including birds and several other beneficial insects. 

The good thing is that aphids can be removed from your garden naturally, without using chemicals on them, which, more or less, would affect your plants as well. 

So, who are these beneficial insects that can take care of entire aphid colonies without you having to spread insecticide all over your garden? In this article, we shall find out.  

Which Are the Bugs That Eat Up Aphids?

There are more than 4,000 aphid species in the world right now. They can destroy plants and entire gardens. But insects like ladybugs, lacewings, damsel bugs, spiders, wasps, and several others can finish them off in no time. Let’s find out more about them.

Lacewings 

Whether it’s brown or green lacewings, both feed on aphids. They are also available commercially as adult lacewings, eggs, or lacewing larvae. Lacewing larvae are also useful in destroying aphid colonies.

Lady beetle 

Lady beetles are the most common bugs available to kill aphids. They are also commercially available in the market for garden supply. 

All lady beetles do not feed on all aphids, so you have to be sure which one you are buying. Moreover, some lady beetles choose to feed on mites and other insects as well. Their larvae also feed on common pests like aphids, thrips, and smaller insects.

Damsel bugs 

These greyish-brown bugs have a needle-like mouth to pierce the aphids before feeding on them. These bugs are, however, not available for commercial use as of now. 

Damsel bugs can eat one aphid a day when they are young and up to a dozen eggs when they grow older. 

Do Ladybugs Eat Aphids?

Ladybugs are quite popular for eating aphids as well as many other pests such as thrips and hornworms. 

While most people recognize adult ladybugs as pest killers, larvae are more potent than even adult ladybugs since they can eat twice the amount of aphids at the same time. 

Ladybugs are also available commercially, but one must follow the instructions given on the packaging before releasing them into the farm or garden. They need to be frozen before releasing, and you should provide a good source of water at all times to them.

An unchecked aphid infestation can leave sooty mold on the leaves, which can cause a lot of damage to the plant. Ladybugs can quickly wipe out large aphid populations and prevent this from happening.

If you wish to attract ladybugs naturally to your garden, plant their favorite plants, such as nasturtiums, cosmos, yarrow, etc., in your garden. Moreover, make sure to provide a good source of water, like a birdbath or a small utensil filled with water. 

How Many Aphids Can a Single Ladybug Eat in a Day?

A single ladybug can eat about 50 aphids daily and about 5,000 in its lifetime. However, it’s the larvae you should look to if you want to get rid of an aphid infestation. 

Ladybug larvae can eat around 100 (or more) aphids, along with other pests, in a single day and are a boon for the host plants.  

Do Asian Lady Beetles Eat Aphids?

Asian lady beetle preys on aphids along with other insects. A single Asian lady beetle can eat up to 270 aphids daily, which is quadruple the amount of what a regular ladybug can consume. 

Its larvae can feed on more than 1,000 aphids during their lifetime. Larvae take about a month to reach the adult stage, and adult beetles can live up to three years in your garden.

Do Praying Mantis Eat Aphids?

Praying mantis are carnivores and can eat any insect that they catch, including aphids. Although they would prefer to consume larger insects and bugs, they do eat arthropods such as butterflies, termites, beetles, crickets, and even spiders. 

These voracious eaters can eat both flying and ground-dwelling creatures. They are such strong predators that even the smallest praying mantis don’t shy away from preying on insects and bugs much larger than them. 

Praying mantis’ have a unique way of catching their prey. They remain very still and extend their forward limbs in what looks like a praying position (hence the name). 

The prey confuses them for a twig, and the minute it comes near it, the mantis lunges on them and starts feeding. 

Do Spiders Eat Aphids?

Yes, several species of spiders eat aphids, along with other insects, including termites and flies. They catch their prey in their web and feed on them, especially when they are indoors. 

However, spiders can also catch and consume aphids as a food source out in the garden. 

Do Wasps Eat Aphids?

Yes, predatory wasps can eat aphids, flies, and other garden pests. However, another category of wasps, known as parasitoid wasps, uses aphids as hosts. 

Aphid wasps are predatory wasps known for laying their eggs in the cracks in the branches. 

However, they can also locate aphid colonies from where they can carry aphids to their eggs for the larvae to feed on them during their metamorphosis. 

Unlike Aphid wasps, parasitic wasps don’t kill or feed on aphids. However, the adult female deposits her eggs in the aphid’s body. 

When the larvae grow into adult wasps, they emerge from the aphid’s body, naturally killing them. In either case, aphids are killed directly or indirectly by the larvae. 

Do Flies Eat Aphids?

Even though there are not many types of flies that eat aphids, some, like hoverflies (also known as flower flies or syrphid flies), may contribute to removing aphids. 

The larvae of hoverflies eat up aphids along with other soft-bodies bugs. Each larva can eat up to 100 to 400 aphids during its lifetime! All these flies do is lay their eggs near aphid colonies, and the rest of the job will be done. 

Some other flies on the aphid-eating list include aphid midges and lacewings. Aphid midges are flies and they can eat around 60 species of aphids. 

Lacewings can eat a variety of aphid species throughout their lifetime and, thus, significantly contribute to biological control.

Do Hummingbirds Eat Aphids?

Yes, hummingbirds do eat aphids. Keeping them in your garden or farm ridden with aphid infestation is a good idea. 

Hummingbirds can remove aphids from the top of trees, unlike most other beneficial insects that we talked about, which makes them great predators. Aphids like to eat the tender part of the tree that grows on the top, and they are hard to reach in that area.

Do Grasshoppers Eat Aphids?

Grasshoppers can eat aphids and other insects that are smaller than them. For this reason, many people confuse them to be ant eaters. 

Grasshoppers do not eat ants, but they do eat aphids. However, grasshoppers are not fierce predators and don’t actively seek aphids to eat. 

Do Yellow Jackets Eat Aphids?

Yellowjackets are common pests in the US. They are, beneficial to plants since they feed on the sugary honeydew produced by aphids. They can help to naturally clear your plants from an infestation.

Do Bees Eat Aphids?

Bees do not eat aphids. However, they feed on the honeydew secretion that comes from aphids’ bodies after they eat the tree’s sap. In that sense, bees can help to remove aphids.

Frequently Asked Questions

What insect eats the most aphids?

When it comes to feeding on aphids, ladybeetles and ladybugs are the insects that eat them the most. 

On a regular day, a single ladybug can eat about 50 aphids. Moreover, its larvae are capable of eating more than 100 aphids in a day.

What are three ways to get rid of aphids?

The top three ways to get rid of aphids include:

• Use chemical repellents or insecticides 
• Spray neem oil or soap solution
• Release ladybugs or other aphid-eating insects on the plant

What kills aphids but not plant?

Natural predators such as ladybugs, damsel bugs, and ladybeetles can help eliminate aphids and other pests without damaging the plants, unlike chemical repellents and insecticides. 

Another way is to mix liquid dish soap with water and spray it on your plants. This is a natural insecticide that will wipe out aphids but not harm the plants.

How do you get rid of aphids permanently?

You can release natural enemies of aphids, such as ladybugs, hummingbirds, beetles, etc., to get rid of them once and forever. You can also use neem oil, soap solution, or essential oils to remove them from your plant. 

Wrap Up

Nature always ensures a balance is maintained. If there are pests, there are always pest killers too! 

So, if you are dealing with an aphid infestation, make sure to release any of the big-eyed bugs we mentioned above, and chances are that your garden will soon be back to its healthy and happy self soon.