Hi all,

I have a big problem that I hope you can help me with. I have just moved to a new home (up in north Wales) and have a nice back garden, so planed to start growing stuff. I brought a pear tree from the local nursery last week. After a few days it started to droop its leaves, some curled up and others had brown parts to it. I did see orange bugs on two of the leaves, but could not fine any information about them on the net.

Well to day I seen a green aphid, so I phoned the local nursery to fine out what to do and they just told me to use something that they sell called a bug gun. Now this would not have been a problem and most people would of used it, but I have an other hobby; ant collecting. I really love this house because it is my first garden that has yellow ants (L. flavus) in it and I really do not want to harm them. If I use the bug gun, I know it will probably kill them as well as other insects in the garden.

What I would like to know is, is there away to get rid of the aphids without getting rid of the ants? If not could the pear tree survive with aphids living on it?

P.S I can get picture of the tree if you need.