What kind of insect is this? (Vanity)

My Backyard | 6/21/2008 | Me

[GreenAccord]

What kind of insect is this?

(The background is the close up of a chaise lounge pad)

[GreenAccord]

OK fellow Freepers. I do this with much reluctance. I don't post articles all that much (four times ever in 4 and a half years) but I'm posting a vanity. I have these little white bugs in my backyard and they seem to be falling out of my three river birches (they're 15 years old and 22-28 feet tall).

I sprayed some Sevin pesticide on the trees fairly well 7 days ago, but the bugs have apparently made it through that treatment. They're quite small (one-fourth the size of an ant). So far, they've only been outside but they number in the dozens on the patio furniture when you look closely.

Any ideas? An exterminator is a route of last resort as they don't seem to be home invaders.

[1rudeboy]

Look like some sort of aphid to me.

[Sacajaweau]

There should be a local conservation office who could nail it for you.

[Grunthor]

“I have these little white bugs in my backyard and they seem to be falling out of my three river birches (they’re 15 years old and 22-28 feet tall).”

22 to 28 feet tall? I’ve never seen a bug like that.

(sorry, couldn’t help it)

Bug looks like some kind of termite.

[CAluvdubya]

Aphid is what it looks like to me, too.

[GreenAccord]

Yes, I’ve called the same folks who made Starship Troopers and they advised a full scale assault. :)

[Grunthor]

hehehe

[dayglored]

Aphid is my guess. E.g.:

http://audilab.bmed.mcgill.ca/~funnell/photos/DSC09685_aphid_crop.jpg

Seen here:

http://audilab.bmed.mcgill.ca/~funnell/photos/

[GreenAccord]

You guys are too quick! (Secretly, I was hoping for a massively-posted thread with all kinds of input. I guess I'll have to settle for a rapid response).

A quick google image search on aphids results in:

from Donna Young.org

Thanks, folks.

So the question now is: What gets rid of them?

[dayglored]

Your aphid is likely from order "Homoptera".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoptera

[1rudeboy]

If you’re looking for some random input (I have the “luxury” of living near Chicago, however), I’ve discovered that certain museums (the Field) and univesities with entomology programs gladly identify insects for you, if you send them a corpse.

[mkmensinger]

Try some dishwash soap and water in a spray bottle.

[tet68]

Three oatmeal cookies, and ice pick and a hammer.
No, wait, that’s for tape worms, let me think.

[Radl]

It’s a Democrat. Stomp on it and move on with your life.

[whatexit]

Great site for such inquiries - http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

[txhurl]

Buy some fireants from me. Ants farm aphids (no, really).

[ErnBatavia]

What gets rid of them?

Your local nursery might well sell them in little containers kinda like a milk carton -- but be forewarned that most of 'em will fly right away.

[Darksheare]

Aphid.
Adult females and some males have wings, thus will fly from infested trees and shrubs to recently cleared trees and shrubs.
If the trees overhead are getting them, it’s a good bet that the source is another nearby tree (or several trees).
Immunox works on roses, but trees I have no practical experience with.
The Seven will work, but it takes repeat applications a couple days apart for really bad infestations.

[Bernard Marx]

Try some dishwash soap and water in a spray bottle.

That works well if spraying is done frequently. If you have aphid infestations you probably have lots of ants too. It's not well known but ants actually "herd" aphids into foliage so they can feed on the "honeydew" produced by the aphids. I am NOT making this up! Aphids I had lots of aphid problems in my garden until I decided to get serious about eliminating ants. Now both are gone.

[Recovering_Democrat]

That is the plague of Dephilrats, a sign of the Apocalypse now that we’re on the verge of electing Hussein as the leader of the free world.

:)

Just kidding. I have no idea.