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Tiny Black Insects (< 1mm) on Japanese Maple

lawrence 804lawrence 804 Posts: 22
in Problem solving
Hi there,

Please could you help me identify these insects?

I thought they might be blackfly, but apparently blackflys are 3mm big.

These insects are less than 1mm big!

You can barely see them with your naked eye (only really visible in clumps):


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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Can’t see clearly on here so bumping the thread up in case others have better zoom capability

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





  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    On my laptop if I click on the photo it enlarges and shows the black insects very clearly if anyone else has this facility. Not something I can help with but if anyone can identify for you I will have learnt something more from this forum.  :)
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Aphids? 
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    They look like very small beetles to me. Probably up to no good. I would get some damp cotton wool and wipe them all off and throw them away or crush them. Unless the tree is too big.. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Too blurry to ID I'm afraid. If your camera doesn''t do macro then you could always try a magnifying glass and a pencil to draw a quick sketch. :)
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • lawrence 804lawrence 804 Posts: 22
    I think that was the macro setting 🤣

    Magnifying glass + sketch is a great idea. I’m not home during the light this week, so will post at the weekend 😄

    The tree is too large to do by hand, and is also outside (not in a greenhouse), in case that influences suggestions.

    Thnaks for the help so far!

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Yes I tried to enlarge but they just end up blurry, try a spray of soft soap or just jet them off with a coarse spray or hose. 
    AB Still learning

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I can't see them clearly either.  Based on them being black, maybe blackfly (a kind of aphid) https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1024996/tiny-black-insects-1mm-on-japanese-maple#latest  or pollen beetles https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=799 ... 

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Hard to tell as they're so tiny.
    I can see something that looks possibly like a scale insect on the bottom of the upper twig just by the bud on the right of the pic. If it looks like a tiny limpet and if you pick it off and there's 'cotton wool' underneath, then it is scale insect.
    Scale insects feed on the sap and the honeydew they produce is sweet and attracts aphids and other beasties.
    Alternatively maybe I should have gone to Specsavers :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
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