Conifer hedge die back

[SAM66S]

Been cutting a conifer hedge for a regular customer & noticed a few areas of yellow die back. In the past ive sprayed an insecticide problem solved! Although this time ive noticed there are loads of ladybirds present, are they feeding off of the insects causing the damage? Or just there by chance? Unsure whether to spray it or not??

[Nimby]

The cypress aphid is prevalent in our area and killing off Leylandii hedges that are closely cropped. I might suggest that the ladybird is feeding on the aphid?? Only an educated guess. How bad is the die back? monitor the hedge rather than zap the ladybirds surely.

[armybloke]

The fact that ladybirds are present in such large numbers is possibly a sign of good feeding grounds. Have you hand lense handy to see what it is that they may be muching? Yellow dieback has appeared in my father-in-laws hedge too - could this be a legacy of our dry spell early in the year as he has not experienced this in the past?

[Czlowiek Drzewo]

if ladybirds are feeding of the aphids..would it not be better to add more ladybirds ?

[SAM66S]

The yellow die back is quite significant from this time last year when i cut it. My initial thought was that the ladybirds were feeding on the insects killing the hedge, definately no need to bring more ladybirds in as there were loads. The trouble with monitoring it is that i only go once a year & the old dear is 93 a hard work to say the least!