What are eating my Dahlias?

Question

My Dahlias are covered in a tiny black insect without wings, they have affixed themselves to the stem just below the bud, there is also a large presence of ants around the stem, what are these bugs and how can I get rid of them

Answer 1

aphids.  a little dish soap and water (1part to 2 parts) will fend them off.

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of...

Answer 2

think i might have seen them before i think the ants are good because they feed on them little bugs maybe a light mix of dish sope and water would kill them just spray a little on the stem not the flower should work

good luck

Answer 3

Try squirting them with a mixture of washing-up liquid and water.

They should slip-off or be killed.

You may also have unseen snails.

Put some beer or lager in a cup or yogurt pot.

Answer 4

those are not ants of bugs ... you just need to stop eating those Special Mushrooms=>

Answer 5

Sounds like black fly. Dilute a small amount of washing up liquid in water and spray it on them regularly until they're gone.

Answer 6

Blackfly (one of the aphid family) for sure. They are sap-suckers, so they always go for tender new growth (buds, new leaves...)

And the ants are not a good thing here -- what they're doing is 'farming' the aphids. They guard them and in return take the sticky sweet liquid ("honeydew") which the aphids exude.

The remedy is to wash them off using washing-up liquid in water, applied with a small paintbrush (more effective and less messy than spraying.) You don't need a great deal of washing-up liquid, just enough to get a bit of bubble. Adding it makes it impossible for the aphids to hold on to the plant.

Don't make the solution too strong -- it could damage your dahlias.

Check under leaves and around all buds. You may have to repeat the treatment in a week or so. When I only find a few, I just rub them off the plant with gloved fingers.  

Good luck.

=D

EDIT: Here are some excellent pictures showing ants and aphids doing to various plants just what they're doing to your poor dahlias. http://www.wildforms.co.uk/html/ants.htm...

Answer 7

they may be japanese beetles.

you need to go and buy this bag thing that traps them. i forgot the brand, but go to lowes or home depot, and i am sure they will have it.

Answer 8

Try some Sevin dust, or take a sample to the garden center and ask their opinion.

Answer 9

me, sorry