AN ARMY of ladybirds has been drafted in to tackle a costly tree problem in East Oxford.

Tree surgeons put the insect, known as the ‘gardeners’ friend’ – along with lacewing larvae know as aphid lions – in trees along Iffley Road.

It is part of a bid to stop infestations which are causing a headache for neighbours.

Aphids produce a sticky sap known as honey dew, which can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars, patios and buildings.

Tree surgeon Tom Wilson, of Eynsham-based company Jenks, has been working with Oxfordshire County Council to control colonies of woolly aphid, greenfly, blackfly and whitefly by introducing the ladybird ‘super bug’ to eat them.

He has also developed a glue band which is placed around the base of the affected tree to combat colonies of ants which help keep the aphids alive.

“This time of year in particular sees a massive explosion in the numbers of aphids infesting our trees.

“It coincides with the period when ants are most active in nest building and supporting the queen,” he said.

“Ants are avid aphid farmers and columns of them can be seen climbing tree trunks and saplings to harvest honey dew but their involvement in this tree sap problem goes far beyond that.

“Ants actively care for aphid colonies, to the extent of rescuing fallen greenfly and other aphids and carrying them back up the trunk before reinstalling them on leaves to continue to excrete sticky sap.”

Yesterday, 1,000 ladybirds and 1,000 lacewing larvae were sent from a breeder in Little Clacton, Essex, and released on to a tree next to Milka’s Guesthouse in Iffley Road.

Peta Gledic, who owns the guesthouse, said although he had learned to live with the sticky problem he was still anxious for it to be sorted out.

He said: “I have learned where to park my car, but it has been causing a bit of a nightmare for people. Anything that is parked near to or underneath the property gets covered in sticky sap. It is practically impossible to clean it off and when it falls on the ground it gets very slippy.

“People who are walking into our property also tend to get the dirt stuck to their shoes, and it just gets on everything.”

According to Mr Wilson the treatment is also cost effective at about £100 per tree, and as the ladybirds and lacewing reproduce, one treatment will usually be enough.

He said: “I suppose my objective was to get people to live alongside trees rather than see them as a cause of nuisance that needed removing.”

Oxfordshire County Council will now work with the company to identify problem trees.

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk