Question
Would the insecticide hurt the ladybugs?
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Followup To

Question -
Hi,
Our crabapple tree is having a bad season. The leaves are turning yellow and falling off and it isn't even June. Also, there appears to be a white cottoney (is that a word?) growth on the trunk and branches. What is going on? We've also noticed an abundance of lady bugs hanging out around the wierd growth. Could they be eating the stuff?

Thanks for the help,
Maggie

Answer -
Sounds like wooly apple aphids. These are small soft bodied insects that suck the juice from the plant. Lady bugs are the natural enemy and are attacking the aphids. The aphid produces a white waxy material as it feeds-this is what you are seeing. Check with you local garden/ nursery type store for a syatemic insecticide for aphids. Spray the entire tree and this will solve the problem. Here is a web link to more information on wooly aphids with pictures  http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/weeklypics/4-10-06.html

Answer
Yes the insecticide will kill the lady bugs. An alternative is to just let the lady bugs do their thing. BUT the tree may suffer from the aphid feeding. It is your decision spray and save the tree from the aphids or do not spray saving the lady bugs but the aphids will keep eating until the number of lady bugs grows and eat the aphids.