Small white bugs that jump ??

remist17

remist17

Shohin
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I have a small maple cutting that has rooted and I found some small white bugs all in a bundle in a crook of a branch. I went to smash them but they all jumped like a grasshopper. they were smaller than a sowing pin. They were not aphids. These had wings on them but they were about the same size if not a little larger than aphids.


What are these things?

and how do I kill them?
I sprayed the tree with Seven, but I am not sure what they even are.


Could be a whooly aphid I guess or white fly.
 
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take a look at photos of cottony scale insect. I have those, and it sounds similar to what you are describing.
I know that scale isn't something that you think of as an insect that can jump around, but in their juvenile stage that is what they are. They will have a fuzzy substance that they place on the trees in crotches, and behind leaves, when you have infestations of them. Then they turn into actual scale like you would think of.
 
Yea,I am not a bug expert,I always' thought they were wooly aphids.There is a extra tiny version of them that can really ruin a tree for the season cause' they excrete this honeydew that attracts flies.I definately use insecticides now when needed.
 
I've occasionally enountered critters like this...little tufts of cotton that can jump surprisingly well. I always figured they were some kind of leafhopper or planthopper. Do they look like this? And, do they jump forcefully, like a grasshopper or leafhopper?

http://bugguide.net/node/view/537480/bgimage

I don't think scale at any stage are capable of jumping. They do crawl around, but I haven't found any references that state they can jump. For instance, on cottony cushion scale:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7410.html

Similarly, regarding wooly aphids - what I've found suggests that they don't "jump" but they do produce winged adults that can fly. For example,

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef219.asp

I guess the question is, do they "jump" like a grasshopper/leafhopper, or just fly more like an aphid? As for treatment...I've never had to deal with enough of them to require chemicals but the links may provide some ideas.

Any chance you could take a good close-up photo?

Chris
 
They jump like a grasshopper. They went all over the place and even on me.
They look like the hopper photo you linked. I can try to get a photo of them if I can find them again.
They were on a small young maple and they all scattered.

I sprayed the trees with Seven last night, but most likely is washed off since we had storms today.
 
You sure they're not light lime green?

Sounds like leafhoppers.
 
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JudyB said:
take a look at photos of cottony scale insect. I have those, and it sounds similar to what you are describing.
I know that scale isn't something that you think of as an insect that can jump around, but in their juvenile stage that is what they are. They will have a fuzzy substance that they place on the trees in crotches, and behind leaves, when you have infestations of them. Then they turn into actual scale like you would think of.
Click to expand...

cottony cushion scale
I just found these on two of my trees.. And one also jumped on me.

Can I get rid of them with the Ortho Bug Be Gone like cmeg said? I recently did a harsh cutback on one tree and it seems they are wrecking havoc on it now.
 
It may be white flies. Scale doesn't jump. White flies take to wing when disturbed and go right back to the undersides of the leafs. I have an azalea they seem to love, but haven't ever seen them on a japanese maple.

With my azalea, spraying the foliage underside when watering plant usually controlled them. I've sprayed NEEM oil when that didn't work, but neutoxins and nukes are always options (be sure to breathe deeply while spraying careful about skin contact and inhalation of the mist/vapor).
 
It may have both.. Some of them are for sure the cottony cushion scale, which I did not see jump. I saw another white bug on the tree so I assumed it was the same thing, but I couldnt tell because as I got closer it jumped away. It more of flew rather than jumped though.
 
JoeR said:
What insecticidal soap? Last time I made one of those it poisoned my trees...
Click to expand...

Bonide insecticidal soap - safe and effective for everything all the so called experts discussed as possibilities - It is also inexpensive and found at most all Big Box and Farm Supply places. It is important to kill the critters before they leave the residue that the scale feeds on. Very simple, inexpensive and fast results without ruining the eco - system. This may inspire some argument in the community but after you read the label you will understand where I am coming from.

For the most part a Friend of mine asked for a quick answer to a simple but crappy problem. Judy in her wisdom and being from the North East replied in confidence and with her I agree. I was disappointed that it turned into a war of who knows better...

On a side note - please do yourself a favor and your plants as well - Spend the 10 dollars when needed and do not bother with "home brewed" crap - It is my experience it NEVER works as well and sometimes not at all compared to properly engineered applications when used per instructions.

Grimmy
 
GrimLore said:
Bonide insecticidal soap - safe and effective for everything all the so called experts discussed as possibilities - It is also inexpensive and found at most all Big Box and Farm Supply places. It is important to kill the critters before they leave the residue that the scale feeds on. Very simple, inexpensive and fast results without ruining the eco - system. This may inspire some argument in the community but after you read the label you will understand where I am coming from.

For the most part a Friend of mine asked for a quick answer to a simple but crappy problem. Judy in her wisdom and being from the North East replied in confidence and with her I agree. I was disappointed that it turned into a war of who knows better...

On a side note - please do yourself a favor and your plants as well - Spend the 10 dollars when needed and do not bother with "home brewed" crap - It is my experience it NEVER works as well and sometimes not at all compared to properly engineered applications when used per instructions.

Grimmy
Click to expand...
Trust me- I learned my lesson about home brewed crap. Never again.

Suppose Im making a trip to Lowes tomorrow then.
 
I just come to make sure they was on trees!

Sorce

 
I am just curious, what did the ancient japanese and chinese do for pest control? Theres no way they just sat back and watched their hard work deteriorate; they must have done something effective. Maybe the issues just werent as bad.
 
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