I suggest you contact March Biological Control
(800) 328- 9140 and buy an egg case of Praying Mantis.
They are a natural preditor on most harmful insects.

Here is a link that might be useful: March Biological Control.

Green lacewing larvae, syrphid fly larvae or even lady bug larvae will probably do a good job of cleaning up the pests. These are all voracious predators of smaller, soft bodied pests.
I would just use oil or soap on them to kill them off.

Rx

Thanks for the input. Now to go research these little critters.

Ann

If you washed off the aphids, you washed off the predators as well. My response to aphids is to DO NOTHING. They cannot kill a healthy plant. Their function in a natural setting is to attract predators, so leave them along and let them do just that. Usually I realize that aphids are nearby because I notice ladybugs. My mantra is, no aphids, no ladybugs.

Ann,
My first thought is that if you have three different types of pests on a plant, something is wrong with the plant's situation. First sounds like aphids, which can be sprayed off with water when they first appear. Ladybugs usually appear shortly after to take out the rest. Second sounds like mealybugs. Are these newly planted? Mealies, in my experience, usually start early in the season if they are greenhoused or overwintered indoors. I spend time and rub-n-squish em, then hose them off. The orange bumps sounds like a fungus. I see this on some arisaemas around now (zone 7).

Again, the fact that three separate pests are hitting your columbines indicates that they are , for some reason, not in the optimal situation for best growth.

Further information?

Too Funny! I will take these words of wisdom into my other gardening! However, I don't think this is the case with these columbines. In my garden I have 4 columbines. 2 in on part, 2 in 2 different parts. The two that are together are the infested ones. They are massive and exploding with blooms. The other two are unaffected by the aphids and other things. One is medium sized and flowering. The other is a little 4 inch globe which is also flowering. I think it needs more sun or water or both.

Anyway, my infected columbines are not showing any signs of unhappiness except the bugs. By the way, the ladybugs did come to the rescue and all is well now. I did some research on ladybugs and started seeing their larve all over the place. I can't throw a stick without hitting a ladybug larve. YIPPEE!! I also see the occational lacewing. My garden is growing like gangbusters and life is good! Thanks for taking time to chime in with your thoughts. I truely do see the wisdom in the comments and look forward to pulling out that little gem down the road.

Ann

I found my columbine had far more problems with aphids and leaf-miners before I started fertilizing my very poor soil. Big infestations like what you have described usually only occur on weakened plants. You might try giving them a little extra food.