SKU: 26449994168

Aphid Midge

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Description

Aphid MidgeIt begins with a small, unassuming midge about 2mm long, easily overlooked, hunting silently through your borders. She's looking for aphid colonies, and when she finds one, she lays her eggs right beside them. What hatches a few days later is unmistakable: bright orange larvae, vivid against the green of your plants, working their way through the colony with quiet efficiency. Up to 60 species of aphid are on the menu. This is the Aphid Midge

It begins with a small, unassuming midge — about 2mm long, easily overlooked, hunting silently through your borders. She's looking for aphid colonies, and when she finds one, she lays her eggs right beside them. What hatches a few days later is unmistakable: bright orange larvae, vivid against the green of your plants, working their way through the colony with quiet efficiency. Up to 60 species of aphid are on the menu.

This is the Aphid Midge (Aphidoletes aphidimyza) — one of nature's most effective aphid predators, and one of the most satisfying biological controls to watch in action. Particularly valuable in early and late season, when other beneficial insects haven't yet woken up or have already retreated.

How it works

You receive aphid midge cocoons in a small ventilated box. Tear open the back of the box, place it amongst your plants in a shaded spot, and let the adults emerge naturally over the following days. There's no spraying, no watering-in, no mixing — just release the cocoons where the aphids are and the midges do the rest.

Each emerging adult female (around 2mm long) actively seeks out aphid colonies and lays her eggs directly next to them — a remarkably accurate piece of natural pest-control engineering. The eggs hatch into highly visible orange larvae that feed on the aphid colony, injecting a small amount of paralysing fluid that dissolves the aphid's body contents. Larvae mature over 7-16 days, then drop into the soil or compost to pupate. New adults emerge 10-14 days later, ready to begin the cycle again.

The result is a self-sustaining little population that can keep working in your garden for several generations — provided the aphids hold out long enough to feed them.

What they tackle

Aphid midge larvae feed on up to 60 species of aphid — including the most common garden trouble-makers:

  • Black aphids on broad beans and dahlias
  • Green aphids on roses, lupins, and chrysanthemums
  • Cabbage and lettuce aphids on edible crops
  • Woolly aphids on apple trees
  • Greenhouse aphids on protected crops

Particularly useful for early-season outbreaks when ladybirds and lacewings haven't yet arrived in numbers, and late-season populations that build up after other predators have wound down.

Early intervention works best

The traditional advice for aphid midges is to release them at the first sign of aphid activity, rather than waiting until colonies are well established. A small dose released early can prevent a problem from developing into a full-blown infestation that needs much heavier intervention. If you've spotted the first aphids on a rose bud, the soft new growth of broad beans, or a single cluster on a chrysanthemum — that's the moment.

For larger or already-established infestations, the supplier recommends releasing in staggered doses over a few weeks rather than deploying everything at once. This keeps a continuous adult population working on the problem and gives the second generation something to emerge into.

How to release

  1. Tear open the back of the box so the midges can fly out as they hatch.
  2. Place the box on the ground near affected plants, or hang it amongst the branches.
  3. Choose a shaded spot — out of direct sun, sheltered from rain.
  4. Angle the opening so water can't collect inside the box.
  5. Leave the box in place for the adults to continue emerging over several days.

Dose: approximately 1 cocoon per square metre is the standard rate. For a typical infested rose, broad bean row, or small greenhouse, the 250-cocoon pack is usually sufficient. For larger areas or whole-greenhouse treatment, the 1000-cocoon pack offers better value per cocoon.

Full release instructions come with your pack. You can also download the detailed instructions here.

Conditions for success

Aphid midges thrive at 20-26°C with reasonable humidity and an established aphid problem to feed on. Adults feed on aphid honeydew (the sticky residue aphids excrete), so a population needs an existing pest issue to thrive. Dry conditions shorten the adult lifespan; shaded, humid spots prolong it.

  • Outdoor use: April to September. Most effective in greenhouse-style protected conditions and warm garden microclimates.
  • Greenhouse use: usable year-round in heated greenhouses; ideal for protected crops with aphid problems.
  • Adult lifespan: 7-10 days per adult, but the cycle continues through multiple generations.

Apply in the cool of evening rather than the heat of midday — opening the box at dusk gives the first emerging adults a calmer environment to orient themselves in.

Pack sizes

  • 250 cocoons — available March to September only. Suitable for small gardens, individual problem plants, or first-response intervention.
  • 1000 cocoons — available year-round. Suitable for larger gardens, whole-greenhouse treatment, or winter greenhouse aphid problems.

Ordering and despatch

Because aphid midges are live biological controls, we don't keep them on standing stock — they're ordered in fresh through our partner Ladybird Plant Care so they reach you at peak effectiveness.

  • Order by 10am Monday for despatch the same week
  • Orders placed after 10am Monday will despatch the following week
  • Dispatched directly by Ladybird Plant Care — you'll receive tracking from them

Worth bearing in mind if you're racing an aphid outbreak — give yourself a few days' grace between ordering and treatment.

About Ladybird Plant Care

Ladybird Plant Care are specialists in biological pest controls — gentle, naturally-derived solutions for problems that have traditionally been tackled with chemicals. We work with them through a direct fulfilment arrangement, which means your order ships from their refrigerated facility to your door at peak freshness. We've chosen them as our biological-control partner because their approach mirrors our own: work with the garden, not against it, and trust the wider ecosystem to find its own balance.

A note on watching it work: the bright orange larvae are one of the most visible and satisfying signs of biological control doing its job. If you spot them on your plants over the days following release, that's exactly what should be happening. Resist the urge to wipe them off — they're the answer, not the problem.

Live biological products cannot be returned. Please order only when you're ready to release within the next few days, and ensure you have suitable conditions (moderate temperatures, existing aphid activity) for treatment success.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 26449994168

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Russell C. Longmire
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 3
Looks Nice But Destroyed by my Lab
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
A really cute little elephant. My lab loved it and carried it around for a week. Then the elephant began losing body parts. Both legs are gone now plus the big squeaker. Lab still likes the elephant and carries it around. Its loosing stuffing and the real question is what body part is next. Its nice but not tough.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2026
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Nash Crawford
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice toy for Chewers!
Was chewed in a day or so, but she loved it.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
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Beth
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Still in one piece and played with!
Color: Checkers - Dinos Bruto (Purple), Size: Mini
Very durable for my little King Charles Chewer. She's had it for a while now and all though the chewing phase has calmed down, she still can be somewhat rough with the toys. The little dino is standing firm. It was a battle she figured she couldn't win with Dino. Now he's a fetch/ tug o war toy that still gets a few nibbles.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kimmi Bear
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 4
DONT BUY THE ELEPHANT, ITS NO GOOD. but GR8 BRAND!
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
The elephant toy had no trunk by the FIRST day! The elephant now looks like an angry Koala bear OR an angry trunk less elephant(whichever u want to say) I LOVE the donkey and dinosaur toys so I bought the elephant confidently, thinking I had nothing to worry about. I wouldn't have spent money on this knowing the trunk would be chewed off in a matter of minutes. My Bella usually chews but she has had her donkey and dinosaurs with the chew guard for MONTHS and there are NO TEARS OR RIPS even with her playing and chewing on them ROUGHLY all day. If you buy any of these type toys I DO highly recommend the donkey or dinosaurs ONLY. The elephant being chewed up in a matter of minutes really makes me angry that I ever spent the money on it. HAD I known it wouldn't be the high quality dog toy I'm used to from GoDog, I would've just bought a second donkey or dino! Now Bella doesn't get her new toy for the month (I try 2 buy her a new stuffed toy or 2 about 1 time a month whenever I have the extra money for it) I guess she will have to go without this month because I spent it on this now trunkless elephant/angry koala:( Whichever name you call it, it is now going to be trash. UPDATE! If you contact the GODOG company they will send one replacement toy for your pet! They also asked me my pet's size, breed and age in order to send the best possible toy! They sent Bella a snake that has held up Extremely WELL! It's great and so far is my favorite(and one of Bella's favorites) The snake has less sqeaky things in it so she doesn't have the drsire to tear it apart immediately to retrieve them by rippong it to shreds:) My updated rating is for the MANUFACTURER'S GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. The fact that they actually replaced it was good but the fact that they went that extra mile by researching the best toy match for my Bella was above and beyond! If you have a Godog toy that went bust right away, contact the manufacturer for a replacement. If you give them your dog's age, weight and breed they will even try to match your pets replacement toy with something that is better suited to your dog's chewing style. (Bella's style is destructive haha) Good luck, ya'll!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016
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AmberC
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
My Dobermans favorite toy to destroy, and one of our recommended picks.
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
Ok, here's an honest breakdown review. I have a 6 month old Doberman who shreds every stuffed animal and dog bed he's come across. He's one of the worst chewers I've owned. We have tried a WIDE variety of stuffed toys. That said, this elephant is his favorite toy. I have ordered 4 of them so far, and just ordered another 4-pack on a buy three get one free deal. The elephant stands out above all the other stuffed creatures from goDog for me as to durability. Hence why I keep buying more. But they usually last about 2-3 weeks on average. In our house, the poor creatures are subjected to vicious, crazy, shaking of the head, helicopter type rotation. It' so hard if it hits your bare arm or leg it actually stings especially when its wet. Then the old, put it between his legs laying down, tearing at the legs action. The limbs are usually the first things to go over time. But they are each almost self sealing, so you clean up as little fluff and keep using it. Eventually the pup reaches the main body and finishes it off. For a normal light to normal chewer, one of two will get you a long way. For those of us resigned to having zoomie type manic chewers that need a constant supply of toys, 2-3 week durability is pretty sound too. I do not recommend the green cheaper monster. It lasted about 45 minutes. The free replacement took about 3 days. Hopefully this aids you in your decision!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2026

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