Where do the aphids on my Fava beans come from? Do the ants bring them there or do they arrive from god knows where? Right now there are lots of ants on my beans still no aphids but I know from years of experience that they will shortly arrive by the millions!
Eggs, nymphs or adults on surrounding susceptible bushes/trees or in the soil (?). I have found what I suspect were aphid eggs on my blackcurrant bush. http://bugguide.net/node/view/355930 Winter sprays will clean-up bushes and get rid of these. However, they will also kill any ladybird eggs and other beneficial bugs overwintering on the plant. For the Fava Beans, just nip out the soft tips when the aphids start to appear. They can't handle mature growth on the beans and the population will be reduced to less unsightly levels. That's my tactic.
