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Crisis with a tree!

Peggy7Peggy7 Posts: 34
in Garden design
Hello,
I have discovered to my horror some black little critters have infested themselves onto a tree I have.  Can anyone tell me what they are, I thought they might be aphids like you get on roses, but when I went to take them off with my fingers I ended up with a rather wet mess on my fingers.  No clue what these are.  I’m sure they shouldn’t be hitching a ride on this plant.  Any ideas what I could use to get rid of them?  Soap and water perhaps?  Many thanks, Peggy

Posts

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    They're blackfly, Peggy - so yes, they're aphids.  They've obviously been sucking a lot of sap, hence the "wet mess"...  If you haven't got a hosepipe ban, squirting them off with a water jet is a good option.  
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes, they're aphids ... blackfly ... squirt them off with a jet from the hosepipe and attract as many birds as you can to the vicinity of the tree for the future. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Peggy7Peggy7 Posts: 34
    Hello my gardening friends,
    Thank you for the advice and identification.  Oh my goodness, time for some drastic action!
    Best wishes,
    Peggy
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    My runner beans are dreadfull this year, I tried hosing them off, next day they were all back, then Hubby filled a hand sprayer with soapy water, didnt do much, finnally after all these weeks, saw 2 ladybirds and ONE lavae, so not spraying even with water, but they are a mess!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - a good squirting Peggy! You might need to do it a couple of times, but the tree will be fine  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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