Plum tree leaves curled up !

[Derbydal]

Advice needed please ? I noticed today that some of the leaves on my plum tree are curled over and have aphids inside the curled parts ,whats the best thing to do ? also there's plenty of Lady Birds on the tree and what may be Lady Bird eggs on some the leaves (small orange dots in clusters of about 10) . atb Dal.

[ameno]

Leaf curl aphids.
If you get a very bad infestation it can cause the new stems to grow twisted, in which case it may be best to spray (although this will obviously kill the ladybirds), but otherwise it won't cause any appreciable damage to an established tree and can safely be ignored.

[Derbydal]

thanks for the reply Ameno ,it is an established tree so may just pick some of the leaves off and not spray .
atb Dal.

[fluffybunnyuk]

Leave it to the ladybirds. They are good things, eat lots of bad things. A healthy food chain means healthy plants. More ladybirds next year means natural biological aphid control.

Line up a a list of pests you usually get. Find what the nautral predators are, and create space/food/housing to attract those predators.

[fishpond]

As you have aphids, check that ants aren't farming them.