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Suspected gnats gathering on my acer

HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
in Problem solving
I have a young acer (orange dream) planted last September in my garden. I’m happy to see it growing rapidly after the weather becomes so warm. 

Today, when I checked out my plants, I was horrified to spot a lot of black winged bugs hiding under the leaves of the acer. I googled and the bugs appear to be gnats. I have a photo of one of them below. Given the way they grouped under the leaves, I thought it is a kind of pests like aphids that feed on the acer, but I could not find any article online about gnats being one of the pests thriving on acer in particular. 

I smashed most of them with my fingers and pinched off those leaves with too many of gnats underneath. I hope what I did can get rid of the problem (or is it not a problem except looking quite scary?). Can anyone please advise if this looks like a gnat? Was that something I did wrong (like I applied acer feed the first time last Sunday), and is there any further action I should be taking? 


Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Heyawc said:
     Can anyone please advise if this looks like a gnat?
    I can advise that it is definitely an adult aphid. The normal solution is to use a solution of soapy water sprayed on the bugs but apparently acer leaves can be more severely affected by the soap than by the bugs so stick to manual removal or leaving the birds to do the job for you. If the infestation is really bad then blast them off with water but be careful as the young leaves can be quite tender for the first couple of weeks of development.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Some adult ahids have wings at some stage of their life.  If its a dense infestation, just rub them off with your fingers.  If only a few, leave them.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    Thank you for your advice! As a gardening beginner all aphid photos I have come across pictured green/black wingless slow moving bugs. Didn’t know adults can bear wings too! I have googled again specifically “adult aphid wings” now I see pictures of what I saw on my acer… 
    Knowing they are aphids I agree manual removal seems the best as the young acer shoots are really delicate that I dare not spray them with soap water.
    i will keep an eye on it and hopefully can remove the population for good.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Heyawc said:
     hopefully can remove the population for good.
    In your dreams!
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    Are you able to have a bird feeder nearby to your Acer @Heyawc? I have found that sparrows and bluetits will often move from a feeder to eating the aphids on my roses. Just an idea 🙂
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That strategy certainly works in this garden too @bullfinch 😃 

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes- getting the balance is what works best. A more sterile environment with very few plants is much harder to keep right. A good mix is what you want. 
    Usually, a few aphids as plants get going isn't much to worry about, and even a sudden infestation if things are a bit out of kilter,  can often clear quite easily if the predators are there.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    bédé said:
    Heyawc said:
     hopefully can remove the population for good.
    In your dreams!
    Don’t wake me up please!
  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    Thank you for the bird feeder suggestion. I have just started building up my little garden. That will definitely be on my wish list. I also agree an eco system will give the most benefits once it is established. Still doing a lot of trial and error. Hopefully there will be some nice sceneries when summer comes 😊
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