What are these nasties?

And what do I do about them? I carefully washed them off and they keep coming back but only on this poor little plant.

I don't see any spines, looks like plucked chicken legs to me. he he Could it be a Kleinia of some sort, without the feathers? Norma

Lol Norma. I know what the cactus is. http://davesgarden.com/t/401821/ Notice the little yellow buggies on it. This is the only cactus they seem to like and I want them Gone. Soap does not seem to dissuade them.

For a moment I thought it would be young leaves that eventually fall or turn into spines. It´s common in newly grown stems of Opuntia and many other cacti. That would explain why soap can´t make them go away.

Yellow spots have brown legs and walk. I can wash them off but they come back or hide, I don't know. Maybe i will try a quick shot of something stronger or continue to pick them off as i find them and hope they do not survive cooler weather. I have the plant isolated at the moment. Poor little ugly plant. It is a good thing it has an interesting flower. It is by far the homeliest plant I own.

Heheh, sorry, I couldn´t notice that by the picture ^.^ I like the idea of picking them off. I have problems with aphids from time to time and nothing works on them besides that. Cotton and alcohol is all what you need to not make a mess.

When in doubt I use the systemic rose insecticide granules from orthene. I hate insecticides but this I sometimes use on cannas as they get those nasty worms and always look bad. I always figure if it kills it I am no worse off because I have to get rid of the bugs after I have tried other things. It stays in the plant for 6 weeks. I have used it on an epi that had something.
Have you tried the (I can't think of the name) it is an oil?
By the way I love that cactus.
Hope this helps.
Sandy

They look like milkweed bugs, which I also get on oleander, and I notice a couple on the string-of-pearls the other day. I've never tried to control them on plants in the yard, but when all else fails and the plant is not something I want to eat, I use this really stinky insecticide called Isotox.

Could also be Milkweed aphids which also do have that orange color.
ilj99 most likely you mean neem oil.
Malathion might also be effective.

The safest way to go after them is I agree w/ alcohol.
A lot of succulents don't react well to the soap or oil-based insecticides.
I used a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water mix.
Spray liberally and let dry in a well ventilated area out of the sun.
Wait a day or two and if you see anymore repeat.
I try not to get too much in the soil.
Ric