Aphids that look like lice

By Aaron Horrell

On the stems of this buttonbush you can see what looks like powdery grey scales. These are tiny insects called grey aphids. They are native to Europe, but have made there way into America where they are often called Cabbage Aphids.

They can be destructive to a fall garden, especially colonizing on the leaves of cabbage, brussels sprouts and kale. Ladybugs and lacewing larvae will eat grey aphids, but most likely the best way to get rid of grey aphids is to break off the infested leaves and discard them outside your garden.