Invasion of tiny red bugs

Viola1900

18 years ago

There are hundreds of these on my false sunflower. Does anyone know what they are and how I can get rid of them? Thanks.

Featured Answer

Doctorant

18 years ago

This aphid is common on a wide variety of yellow composites in the sunflower tribe, Rudbeckia, Heliopsis, Ratibida, Helianthus, etc. Individual plants which do not have them are most likely either lucky or genetically resistant, rather than stressed, since even healthy plants will often be infested. On the other hand, I've never seen these aphids kill the host plant, and they do provide food for a variety of other predatory insects, so unless you just can't stand the look of them, I recommend you take no remedial measures and simply appreciate them as part of the web of life.

Also, if you live in much of eastern US, the invasive Asian variable ladybird beetle will probably come along and "clean them up", as it does most aphids not protected by ants. These beetles, released with the intention of providing a "natural" control for aphids, are really doing damage to a lot of native, non-pest aphid populations, with untold cascading effects on invertebrate communities in our North American ecosystems.

Here is a link that might be useful: Asian lady beetle

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Comments (8)

Aaron_UK
18 years ago
They are Aphids
Viola1900
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks Aaron, I only knew about green aphids so I learned something today. Thanks again!
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pgm860
18 years ago
Rosy apple aphids. Here is a closeup of one

Praveen.
Day_By_Day
18 years ago
Holy smokes, that's a close up. Kinda like a alien bug.
nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
18 years ago
What cameras are you two using?
Elven
18 years ago
You can get rid of them by releasing ladybugs. To get rid of them instantly, just get your water hose and spray them with a good strong stream of water. Their mouths are embedded in the plant so it rips their bodies right off their heads. Gruesome, but efficient.
The reason aphids (or any "pest" insect) attack is because the plant is in stress for one reason or another. This is nature's way of taking out the weak (survival of the fittest). Stress causes: If it is planted wrong, if it is planted by plants that do not get along or if it is an ill-adapted plant for the area. Could also be that the soil is not in optimal condition as well. High nitrogen & other synthetic fertilizers seem to have detrimental effects on soil health.
pgm860
18 years ago
Nanelle, I am using a Nikon D100 Digital SLR now, the picture of the aphid was taken with a Nikon CP-990.

pgm