Thanks. They are too much to kill by hand (and disgusting ... lol). I will try a insecticide.

You know. I had a great experience using ladybugs to get rid of aphids. Or you can just use a garden hose to get them off the plant.

But back to ladybugs: bought them online, they arrived, sprinkled at the base of the plant. They ate all the bugs they could find and then they flew away.

For my aphid issues I do the same thing I do with some other pests: get a bucket of soapy water and shake them off the plant and into the bucket. I have had infestations so bad that the falling aphids looked like a little green blizzard and many missed the bucket, but I definitely got a large percentage of them and the infestation was much, much milder after that. If they were stubborn smetimes I would also grab a piece of wood mulch and lightly scrape along the stem/leaves to knock them into the water.

Hosing them works too but I'm always worried they'll just collect back on the rose.

No need for insecticides they never work for long anyway. As all insects develop immunity to what you use. You will however kill your predator insects causing bigger problems thru out the year. I have not had a problem with aphids since I stopped using insecticides. Lots of bugs love to eat them.

Anyway the damage that you are seeing is NOT from aphids. May I ask what area of the country you are from. So that we might start to find the cause for you.

I've been looking at your photos some more. Try to think any information possible. How long has your rose been looking poorly. Has there been any chemicals used near by? Do you live where there are cold winters or excessive heat. Is your rose new. The aphids are just present but absolutely not causing the problem for one thing they do not eat leaves.

The aphids can be knocked of with a sharp stream from your hose, but as Patty noted, the leaf damage appears to be from something else. Look underneath the leaves befor you hose down the plant.

. @Patty W. zone 5a Illinois thanks for the reply and information. I'm from Canada, Ontario. So cold weather and winter. This problem started last year. It didn't kill the tree, but reduced the quality very much. As you say, if they don't eat the leaves - maybe something else was there which I didn't notice (which is possible).

I'm just being proactive this summer in case this problem starts again. I'm sure it will.

I agree with the insecticides comment, I'd like to use something natural. Like Ladybugs as others commented. I need to find a palace where I can buy them.

Madara if you can take photos as soon as you see any damage this year. Perhaps someone will see what the problem is. Good luck and would it not be nice if we went without any trouble for a year.