Take a look at what has been on one of my flower plants. There are lots of them and they are not going anywhere. They seem to be happy just hanging out all together (very close) on this one plant.
I bought lady bugs, but they seemed to ignore them.
The plant doesn't seem to be minding much - no yellow leaves, etc.
Does anyone know what these guys are?
Here is another picture.
My husband thinks they're aphids.
The treatment I read about is to knock them off with a stream of water ... but there are other plants all around this one that they would inhabit. Is the idea to kill them with the stream of water?? Aren't you just speading them around this way?
I've always heard that when they get knocked off the plant, they can't get back on and predators eat them.
You can spray them with soapy water to kill them.
Sometimes I wipe them off with a paper towel.
Usually the plant won't show signs of mite/aphid stress until the heat of summer. If you have a cool moist summer the mites/aphids won't really harm the plant. But when you get too many critters and the summer days start getting hot then the plant will let you know...
Well, okay. I'm cutting off the parts of the plant where the majority of them are and then dispose of it in a black plastic bag (sealed closed).
I'll try the soapy water trick.
Thanks so much!!
Why do you think the lady bugs didn't make a feast out of 'em?
I think because they aren't aphids...I don't know what they are though.
those aren't aphids. they are immature plant bugs of some kind. they will end up doing a world of damage as they grow up. could be assassin bugs (which are good), but i doubt it. i had the same thing in my garden and they attack the new growth on everything growing. you might need a systemic. i have been reluctant to use anything up until now, but i am tired of squishing them. i'm checking into ortho bug-b-gone and other products. good luck. debi
Gotta disagree. These are aphids. You can see the two little stove pipes on top at the rear of their abdomens. Only aphids have these. They are called cornicles. I can see where you could mistake them for immature plant bugs with their coloration. Aphids come in almost all colors.
Ladybugs are tricky. The purchased ones have to be placed just so or they just fly off. Just allowing your native ones to prosper (no pesticides that will impact them) is the best solution.
Soapy water will do the trick. Their little bodies are very soft, and it dessicates them. You'll need to keep a look out though, because you always miss one or two, and those things give birth like - well, better than - rabbits!
CJ
ceejay, i found this on google of red aphids. i still don't think they look the same, but i'm going to compare. http://www.skydancers.com/photos/neighborhood/fauna/insects/aphid_red.jpg
See those little butts sticking up in the air - and those cornicles?
i don't know. i still can't tell. how many legs do aphids have anyway?
yes, i see the butts! lol, but i'm still not convinced they are one in the same.... i am so stubborn............
ok,i was thinking and i concede defeat. the plantbug nymphs don't "gather" like that on the stem. i really do have plantbug nymphs that are red with butts, but they are bigger than aphids...........hardheaded debi.
Yeah, you got out your magnifying glass, didn't you? LOL But you're right, they don't gather like that and they are bigger than aphids. BTW, they have 6 legs, and the legs all come off of the upper part of the body. So you are seeing the cornicles on that top-most aphid, and then on some lower ones too.
CJ, who can sometimes be very hard-headed herself....
Hey - I think there's a theme song out there for you two!
There's this guy named Cat Stevens? LOL
LOL, i just hope JustWe sees this update. you know, i looked into the bug-b-gone and some other things (up on this thread) and i just couldn't do it. i ended up getting Safer Soap and it's killing the squash (leaf-footed) bugs, which is what i have in uncountable numbers and i don't spray it near my butterfly weed. http://www.floridanature.org/species.asp?species=Acanthocephala_femorata oh tammy! you got us!
This message was edited Jun 13, 2006 9:13 PM
