I suspect these are some type of aphids but they don't look like milkweed aphids. They are tiny and completely orange. I have been spraying off the plants once a day which seems to work but some leaves are getting dark grey spots (not a lot). Any idea what they could be? They seem to be specifically targeting my 4 clematis plants.
Was instant messaging with an entomologist friend of mine and showed him your post...
Violetta: what are your thoughts on this? http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/clematis/msg061027269390.html?1 Friend: completely orange is a pretty rare color scheme for aphids Friend: but the main way to tell if they are aphids vs. somthing else is to look at them closely and see if they are sort of sedentary, with their little feeding beak stuck in the plant, vs. other orange insects, such as the nymph stage of milkweed bugs or mites - which tend to be pretty mobile Violetta: and if they are something else? Friend: the treatment might depend on what they are, but if we are dealing with only a few plants, wiping or blasting off the offending insects by hand tend to be the most effective and efficient method Friend: what is the geographic range of that forum? Friend: location is important for knowing which species they are Friend: if they can take a digital image and send it to me, I could at least tell them what type of pest it is, Friend: and then recommend what to do, at least for that type of pest Friend: but again, wiping them off works for many different types of pest Friend: it's less effective for those that 1) are coming in continuously from some source, or 2) develop and multiply very rapidly (eg. aphids) Violetta: k, i'm posting a response now, thank you
