Can anyone identify this garden pest?

ItchyFeet

Hi, is anybody able to identify whatever is attacking this plant for me please?



It has completely decimated the plant belonging to my neighbour with whom i share a border and i'm concerned it will move onto my plants next. I have a weigela, hydrangea and tamarix right next to it although they appear to be unaffected at present.

There are what look like tiny black eggs tightly packed around the leaf stem. There were some ants on it this morning but i wasn't sure if they were eating the eggs or laying them.

Many thanks to anyone that can help.

ItchyFeet

P.S. Sorry for the massive picture!:o

sam.4000

It looks like aphids (black fly) to me. Use a solution of washing up liquid and water and spray them weekly.

Lotus-eater

They're not eggs, they are aphids and the ants are farming them. The holes in the leaves possibly would be snails or slugs.
The aphids you can rub off with your fingers, the slugs a night time excursion into the garden with a torch would make sure what they are and take a pair of scissors with you to chop them up.

almondsalty

yeah its black fly. You should spend a bit more on a spray that will keep them off for a while. i.e dont get a cheap one from pound land or something. Or just wipe them away.

ItchyFeet

Thanks all. Is it likely that it will spread to other plants? At the moment they appear to just be sticking to this one.

foxgloves

Soapy water should sort this out for you. The soap messes up their breathing apparatus apparently. make a sudsy solution of washing up liquid & squidge it all over to get them off & remove residual stickiness then wash it all off. One year, my peppers & chillies got covered in them & I spent nearly a whole morning washing every single leaf, but it got rid of them & they didn't come back.

Mojisola

The blackfly won't be making the holes in the leaves. They just suck the sap out of the plant. You've probably got caterpillars on there as well as the aphids.

almondsalty

why was my post deleted? weird. sorry some times my posts dissapear? im not familiar with forums really.

elsien

My elder is covered with the things - it looks vile but is too high up for me to reach so I'm hoping the birds will start doing the honours, although they seem to be concentrating more on the bird feeder at the moment.
It was the same last year and it didn't spread anywhere else in the garden so your plants may be ok. ( I have a wiegela as well, although not the others that you mention.

Scotsbride

I actually say vine wevils they typically leave hole punched holes in leaves often found in pots bettle like brown/black.