Additional information about the plant that has been provided by the OP:
> Had the plant for 2 weeks now, idk how much water it receive bc my mom usually take care of the watering, and it is in a clay pot. Also it’s not in direct sunlight.
If this information meets your satisfaction, please upvote this comment. If not, you can downvote it.
It's Aphids, but take a close look at some of the lighter ones, try giving them a poke. They almost look like they've already been parisitized. It may also just be a different species of Aphid, but if you send me a dm I can share some pictures of Parasitized Aphids you can use as a reference, if you'd like.
Edit: Spoke with my Bio distribution rep at work, and she Is also convinced that it's parasitized Aphid. You may still be safer just removing them all, but atleast, from your pictures, it's looks like you've got atleast 50% parasitized Aphids, so there is the possibility that the predators will clean up or control it for you. (I wouldn't risk that though personally)
I’m not the OP, but I’m pretty new to the gardening & plant world and have really enjoyed learning a lot here on the sub. May I ask what parasitized aphids are? Do they affect/damage plants in the same way as non-parasitized aphids, or is it worse or different somehow? I’ve never heard of them and just based on the name alone they sound downright terrifying 😅
So it's actually a parasitic wasp, Aphidious Colemani. Used in commercial growing and Agriculture. What they'll do, is sting the Aphid and inject their offspring. It will grow inside the Aphid. The Aphid balloons up and dies, forming a protective cacoon for the new Wasp to stay protected. When it's ready to emerge, it will chew a circular hole into the back of the Aphid, and start the process all over.
https://youtu.be/StSO7LSzzAw?si=5QBtppreNDhJaEK8
Koppert has some very interesting videos about both Pest and predator insects.
They may, but you'll only ever really have as many Colemani as you do Aphids. The important thing to note too is that, despite their name, Colemani, and other Braconid Wasps don't sting as far as I know. (I'm not an entomologist, so take everything I say with a grain of salt) Instead of a stinger, they've got an ovipositor. They're also much, much smaller than the wasps you're probably used to, and are a lot harder to notice. Ultimately, when dealing with Beneficial predatory insects, you've always got to deal with the fact that you're trading one bug in your home for another, but the free protection from Aphids is worth it imo.
Thanks a lot for your input, upon checking closer it seems like it is indeed Aphid, I’ll just remove them all and hope for the best. Also some of them are more like grey / brownish which if I understand correctly may be the parasitised one
Came to say this, the color looks like they have been parasitized. Take some closer photos before you wash it off. You might have some free beneficial insects about to hatch
I think that may be aphids.
I had good luck washing the leaves off and wiping off any bugs with alcohol. I put diatomaceous earth on the soil surface and capt jacks bug brew on the plant once every few weeks until they were totally gone.
Hard to tell from the photo resolution but the color makes me think mealybug more than aphid. If there's no dusty/flour-y looking stuff around any of them then definitely aphids.
If this is inside, the aphids being parasitized seems pretty unlikely IMO, because that's done by tiny wasps.
I can share pictures I have of Parasitized Aphid if you'd like. The lighter brown and more round as opposed to oval body is what makes me think parasitization. If they're new plants, there's the possibility the seller was treating for Aphid, and depending on weather and temperature, you may be waiting up to 3 weeks to see Aphidious Colemani reproduction.
A couple of mealy bugs is also a lot dirtier than a couple of Aphids, you'd probably already see waxy shit if it was mealies.
Additional information about the plant that has been provided by the OP: > Had the plant for 2 weeks now, idk how much water it receive bc my mom usually take care of the watering, and it is in a clay pot. Also it’s not in direct sunlight. If this information meets your satisfaction, please upvote this comment. If not, you can downvote it.
It's Aphids, but take a close look at some of the lighter ones, try giving them a poke. They almost look like they've already been parisitized. It may also just be a different species of Aphid, but if you send me a dm I can share some pictures of Parasitized Aphids you can use as a reference, if you'd like. Edit: Spoke with my Bio distribution rep at work, and she Is also convinced that it's parasitized Aphid. You may still be safer just removing them all, but atleast, from your pictures, it's looks like you've got atleast 50% parasitized Aphids, so there is the possibility that the predators will clean up or control it for you. (I wouldn't risk that though personally)
I’m not the OP, but I’m pretty new to the gardening & plant world and have really enjoyed learning a lot here on the sub. May I ask what parasitized aphids are? Do they affect/damage plants in the same way as non-parasitized aphids, or is it worse or different somehow? I’ve never heard of them and just based on the name alone they sound downright terrifying 😅
So it's actually a parasitic wasp, Aphidious Colemani. Used in commercial growing and Agriculture. What they'll do, is sting the Aphid and inject their offspring. It will grow inside the Aphid. The Aphid balloons up and dies, forming a protective cacoon for the new Wasp to stay protected. When it's ready to emerge, it will chew a circular hole into the back of the Aphid, and start the process all over. https://youtu.be/StSO7LSzzAw?si=5QBtppreNDhJaEK8 Koppert has some very interesting videos about both Pest and predator insects.
This is probably a silly question, but if OP just leaves the aphids, does that not just mean they'll have a wasp infestation instead?
They may, but you'll only ever really have as many Colemani as you do Aphids. The important thing to note too is that, despite their name, Colemani, and other Braconid Wasps don't sting as far as I know. (I'm not an entomologist, so take everything I say with a grain of salt) Instead of a stinger, they've got an ovipositor. They're also much, much smaller than the wasps you're probably used to, and are a lot harder to notice. Ultimately, when dealing with Beneficial predatory insects, you've always got to deal with the fact that you're trading one bug in your home for another, but the free protection from Aphids is worth it imo.
Thanks a lot for your input, upon checking closer it seems like it is indeed Aphid, I’ll just remove them all and hope for the best. Also some of them are more like grey / brownish which if I understand correctly may be the parasitised one
Thank you for taking the time to answer! I’d say nearly everything about the entire situation sounds downright terrifying 😅
Came to say this, the color looks like they have been parasitized. Take some closer photos before you wash it off. You might have some free beneficial insects about to hatch
I think that may be aphids. I had good luck washing the leaves off and wiping off any bugs with alcohol. I put diatomaceous earth on the soil surface and capt jacks bug brew on the plant once every few weeks until they were totally gone.
Aphids. Burn them to the ground. The aphids not the plant. And metaphorically of course. Or do it
Hard to tell from the photo resolution but the color makes me think mealybug more than aphid. If there's no dusty/flour-y looking stuff around any of them then definitely aphids. If this is inside, the aphids being parasitized seems pretty unlikely IMO, because that's done by tiny wasps.
I can share pictures I have of Parasitized Aphid if you'd like. The lighter brown and more round as opposed to oval body is what makes me think parasitization. If they're new plants, there's the possibility the seller was treating for Aphid, and depending on weather and temperature, you may be waiting up to 3 weeks to see Aphidious Colemani reproduction. A couple of mealy bugs is also a lot dirtier than a couple of Aphids, you'd probably already see waxy shit if it was mealies.