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What are these little critters on my Acer?

GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
in Problem solving
Hi all,
My Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' seem to have it's buds covered in these little critters.  They look like they might be ladybird larvae (thanks to previous post!) but I am not sure.

I'd like to get on top of them quickly, if they are not, as they are only on the buds and there are A LOT of them.

A search for Maple Aphid looks similar too...

Thanks.


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Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Are they newly hatched ladybird larvae?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Could well be.   This link is informative on all sorts of ladybirds and their larvae - 

    https://ladybugplanet.com/ladybug-larvae-easy-guide-and-identifying-them-with-images/#Ladybug_Larvae_Stages 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    rachelQrtJHBjb said:
    Are they newly hatched ladybird larvae?
    This is what I think - but there is a HUGE number of them.  Every bud is covered, pretty much like in the image.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039


    Young Ladybird larvae
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    That's a cracking picture, Graveleater, whatever the bugs are.
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    Fire said:
    That's a cracking picture, Graveleater, whatever the bugs are.
    Thanks.  It's a slight crop from the old Nikon D50.  I've got the 50 mm f/1.8D lens mounted backwards for close-up work.  All manual exposure in such a case, as the camera thinks there is no lens attached!  It does the job ;)
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    edited March 2021
    The light is not so good right now, and I swapped for a reverse mounted 28mm at f/22 with manual focus by physically moving the camera!.
    Looking more like ladybird larvae.

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I don't think they are ladybird larvae- especially in that 2nd photo. Some of them are looking fat and round, the ladybirds don't go like that. I don't have any suggestions as to what they are though, sorry!
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    Maybe it's a Maple Aphid of some kind?
    Periphyllus californiensis looks very similar.

    There are a large number of ladybirds this year, but I haven't seen the bluey-grey larvae of them yet, wondering if these in the pics would turn more ladybird larvae-ish.

    If they are aphids, then I need to protect the acer tree.  It seems a teaspoon of washing up liquid in 2 litres of water, and sprayed to the buds should do it.  As well as manually scraping them off and squishing them.

    I'd rather be sure, before killing whatever these are.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited March 2021
    I've seen larvae of ladybirds at all stages over the years, but none have looked like those in your photo.
    I agree they're are already lots of lovely ladybirds around this year - great news!
    I wish I could vote for ladybird larvae, but I don't think they are. 
    They do however look a lot like Maple Aphids...

    You may have seen this page already, but right at the bottom it says - 

    'There is not much in the literature about control of Periphyllus californiensis probably because it's unlikely to cause any damage to the tree. Natural biological control from your local predators and parasitoids usually prevents excessive numbers.

    https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Periphyllus_californiensis_Californian_maple_aphid.htm

    PS - awesome pics!!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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