There's nothing else that looks like an aphid; they come in a number of different colors.

Ladybugs that are released into a location don't usually stay where we want them to.

rhizo_1 Thanks. Do you think that's two different aphid species? I was hoping the ladybugs will stay since they do have plenty to eat here.

So short of ladybugs, do you have any recommendations for aphid control?

Hard to tell from the image, brown insects could be nymph of another insect or could be another species of aphid. You can get much faster immediate results by spraying horticultural oil on aphid populations than trying ladybugs. Repeated releases of ladybugs can increase the local population if winters are mild. But you would think 5,000 ladybugs could have some effect.

Update. The ladybugs were very hungry, but they only went after the green aphids, almost clearing them out, but not those black things which look like eggs. So far they are still hanging out, munching away.

Even if they fly off, it;'s been a fun science project.

Thanks rhizo_1

I don't ever see wasps around just bees, but that doesn't mean they aren't around.

I'm in So Cal USDA 10a, Sunset 19. I will try the oil overwinter, but stuff here doesn't ever go fully dormant. The leaves on deciduous tree drop and then the buds break within a couple of weeks, with a few exceptions (pomegranate and peach which drop all their leaves as soon as the fruit is in). The apple has at least a few green leaves year round.

Anyway, I'm going to continue to monitor the ladybugs, and decide what to do in a week or two.

The wasps that parasitize aphids for you are the size of mere specks. You won't even know they are there except for the dead aphids.

Well, the ladybugs finished up the live aphids and then went for the exoskeletons. The apple tree is almost totally clean now. I wish I could say the same for the roses and vinca major, which are still badly infested. I will give the beetles some more time.