AusBonsai

Hello everyone

I have a ton of little black bugs that resemble tiny spiders on my Japanese Maple. They seem to be congregating around the new buds forming.

I have attached a picture although I don't know how much it will help as it was taken with an old iPhone 3GS.
Any ideas what they might be and how I should go about getting rid of them?

Hi Mick, they look a little large to be red spider mite or 2 spotted mites. My guess is that they are just harmless little spiders.

Cheers,
Mojo

Thats good to hear, but a little creepy as well. There are probably 80 of them on a very small plant

Better to get rid of them. If you dont want to kill them, just hose them off. They could be aphids.

More than likely aphids. For them to be congregating at the new buds, that sounds like them. hose or insecticide. I'd spray,.
Andrew

Thanks, better safe than sorry I guess

Hi All,

I'm brand new in this fantastic community and in desperate need of help to identify this pest

Don't know if the same is cause of the leaves disease

Thanks all in advance

ML

And here it's a better one...

Any help guys? Please!

Hi Maple Leaf,

Picture shows Mealy Bugs to me which suck the sap out of young shoots & the sap will then attract ants. Try Confidor or a strong hose in the interim to slow them down.
Regards,

Black Knight

Thanks Black Knight. Much appreciated.

These kinds of insects are only on the soil. None on the leaves. My fear is that they are eating the roots. And I don't knower if the drying leaves are an effect of that or just the incoming autumn...

Hi Maple Leaf,

Mealy Bugs will also attack the roots.

Regards,

Black Knight