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What are these black insects?

Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 196
in Problem solving
Hi all,

I've noticed over the past couple of days we have had an infestation of little black insects, particularly on our clematis. Any ideas what these may be? I thought they could be pollen beetles.

Either way, are they harmful to our plants?

Hopefully the pictures are clear enough to help identify?


Many thanks!

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2020
    Aphids. Squirt them off with the hose or rub them off. Some spray dilute soap or washing uo liquid on them.
    I rub them off,it becomes less disgusting the more you do it😖
    The ants are farming them and protect them from predators. They often nip their wings off to prevent them from escaping
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Those are aphids ... blast them off with a jet from the hosepipe 

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





  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    They're a black aphid usually called black fly. Similar to greenfly in that they suck the plants sap and breed very quickly. They are predated on by ladybirds wasps etc. Most people would choose to spray with soapy water which kills them but doesn't harm the " goodies" 
    Pollen beetles usually settle on flowers to literally eat pollen. They are small and shiny.
  • team.stratfordteam.stratford Posts: 17
    Aphids love new growth in particular. A few isn’t a problem but too many and the plant might not be too happy- particularly if it’s young. 
    Soapy water, squashing them or ladybirds all work well. 
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Squirt, soapy water and work them off with fingers for now. Ladybirds are great but won't be around in large enough numbers just yet. It's a temporary problem, later in the summer there are usually enough predators around to control them.
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 196
    Thanks all! A few blasts with the hose seem to have helped but seems it will be a regular thing for a while!
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