Lupin aphids should I just give up? :(

[RightOnTheEdge]

My Lupins are covered in them.

I've read all the advice on the Internet about washing with soapy water and rubbing with bananas. I've squished hundreds but they are still there, although still looking better than my neighbour's at the moment which is completely destroyed.

To be honest I think they are having a lovely time eating squished banana and having nice soapy showers

There are a few less now. Should I carry on with the soapy water, just admit defeat and give up, or are bug sprays effective on them?

The first day I noticed them I deluged the lupins with soapy water and pulled off as many as I could. Now I wipe them off with my gloved (and sometimes bare) fingers every time I walk past the lupins, probably once a day or every couple of days, and there are far, far fewer. So I feel that I'm keeping on top of them. During our drier spell the lupins were fantastic, but since it's been a bit rainier the damn slugs are out in full force and they're doing far more damage!

You could invest in lacewing eggs, and ladybird larvae for the aphids. And nematodes for the slugs!

I'll just try and keep on top of them then, and see how it goes tdm1

The slugs are shredding the leaves as well.
I had never heard of nematodes MrsBert but have seen them mentioned a lot lately. I'll have to go look them up. My garden is full of slugs and snails.

I read that ladybirds and other things don't bother with these kind of aphids for some reason. I don't know if it's true or not. I hardly seem to see many ladybirds these days.