Basically, pest infestation by plant lice, especially aphids or scale insects, is very rare on chives. Nevertheless, these pests sometimes also seek out the actually unloved chives - be it because the other food supply is not available or the infested plant was already weakened in advance.
aphids
The approximately two millimeter large aphids are among the most common pests and can be found on almost all plants. They feed on the sap of the plant and therefore mainly romp around on the leaves. An infestation is usually only noticed when the affected plant is already covered with a sticky layer - the aphid excretions are very sugary, which primarily attracts sooty mold and ants. It is best to shower an infested plant with a hard jet so that the annoying little creatures are rinsed off. It is best to pack the pot in a plastic bag for this purpose. You can then water the chives with diluted nettle stock.
Mealybugs and mealybugs
Mealybugs and mealy bugs, which also feed on the plant sap, also leave sticky excrements. These plant lice are very rarely found on chives and usually infest chives kept indoors. You can recognize an infestation by the sticky sap, which - just like aphids - often appears coated in black. The little creatures, which are between two and five millimeters in size, like to hide behind a kind of white cotton ball that protects them from external damage. Shower the infested plant with a hard jet of water, although you probably have to cut the chives down radically anyway if the infestation is severe. Mealybugs are very difficult to get rid of.
tips and tricks
An infestation with pests is rather unlikely if you cultivate your chives in the garden or on the balcony - mealybugs in particular almost exclusively infest indoor plants. An aphid infestation on chives, on the other hand, is very unlikely if you have other plants on the balcony.
IJA