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Awful pests

susananwmssusananwms Posts: 213
in Problem solving
Can anyone tell me what these horrible things are? Plant was not doing as well as the others so parted all the leaves to see if anything was going on
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw these horrible creatures
I have cut out the stems that were plastered in these black things, have moved the pot away from other plants and tried to wash off or drown what was left of them on plant
Would like to know what to do now

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I can't really see them clearly but they could be blackfly, a type of aphid. They tend to cluster on stems like that.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Possibly a type of aphid … I wash them off with a jet from the  hose. You may need to repeat it every so often, but I’ve found it works. 

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





  • susananwmssusananwms Posts: 213
    Thanks for your replies
    Have just washed all leaves again, cant see any more on there now but did see a few ants, have washed them off as well.  Ugh I cannot believe I did not see them until they had got so bad.  So I just keep an eye out and wash away anything I see?  I am so glad it is nothing more serious.  I hate creepy crawlies of any kind and a garden is certainly full of them
    Have noticed now that some other plants are being eaten, with holes in the middle of the leaves rather than around edges.  I will check them again and maybe take some pics to see if anything can be identified

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    ... did see a few ants...
    Ants pretty much confirms that they are aphids. The ants "milk" the aphids for the sticky honeydew that the aphids excrete. Ain't nature wonderful? :s
    ...I hate creepy crawlies of any kind and a garden is certainly full of them...
    Some creepy crawlies are good guys and will eat the aphids - in particular ladybirds and their larvae. The larvae are ugly-looking little critters and often mistaken for something nasty, but if you see them, leave them be. See this thread for pics.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    I tend to use a spray of soapy water, works well with black fly.
  • susananwmssusananwms Posts: 213
    Heavens! I would never have thought that was ladybird larvae. 
    Strange but I do not see so many ladybirds anymore, loads bumble bees, butterflies, moths, dragonflies everything you can think of but not many ladybirds
    I did have ordinary caterpillars once but they were not doing any harm to my plants so I left them
    I will keep a look out now for ladybirds and their larvae although it looks quite creepy
    Thank you all for your input and advice

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