You could actually unleash some ladybugs on them and they would feast. :)

Those are aphids :) If you see orange alligator-looking bugs soon, those are ladybug babies eating them! For now, just squish. Or use a strong hose spray, and I think some people even sprinkle them with flour.

I never have them do enough sucking before the ladybugs move in to have to do anything for them. I do still squish them with my fingers if I see a whole bunch of them on tender new buds.

I like to wash them off, but in our drought, wiping them off with my fingers is probably more likely.

I find that when I first plant roses in a new to roses area, every bug in town comes to visit. But shortly after so do the hummingbirds, little finches, ladybugs etc. So as hard as it is to do, I try not to notice how horrible they look for now

I first planted roses here in 2013, and the aphids found them soon after. I gritted my teeth, hosed them off it annoyed me too much, but otherwise "let it be." The following year, they returned -- but then so did the aphid-predators. In 2014, the only time I got rid of aphids myself was if I was cutting roses for a vase -- bugs outside is OK, but bugs inside is a no-no with me.

:-)

~Christopher

I check my roses often throughout the week. As soon as I see them, I just hose hose them off. That way, there is no chemical use and of course the birds and lady bugs help me out too. Look for aphids in the new growth of your rose and of course along the stem. They use to freak me out too. Boy, I can remember the first time I discovered aphids on my plant, I threw the damn plant and all in the garbage. I promised myself I'd never buy another plant again. lol

White Fly and Aphids is my call on your bugs. As I am in Australia I can not recommend any products as they vary from country to country. If your Ladybugs do not turn up to help may I suggest a oil of some description, Horticultural Oil with suffocate them. But you must only use it as directed, otherwise it can/could harm the roses. The other alternative is spray them with your garden hose.

Regards David.

I spray Sevin in the Spring for bugs, it also prevents RRD.

No. Sevin does not prevent RRD. RRD is spread by mites, which an insecticide would not do anything. And aphids do not require something strong like Sevin. They can be done away with by spraying the garden hose on them.

Sevin does control mites. This is what I found :

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/viruses/rose-rosette.aspx

"3. Control the disease by controlling the mite. Pesticides such as carbaryl (Sevin), bifenthrin, horticultural oils and insecticidal soap may provide some protection when applied at weekly intervals during the months of June and July."

My Westerland is covered in aphids(like the photo above), I squeeze the little sap-suckers with my fingers. When the plant gets bigger I will resort to soapy water in a spray bottle, I always keep a spray bottle handy to kill ants.

The weird thing is I don't see any aphids on my Poet or climbing roses.

May provide some? I don't think using something like Sevin regularly is a good idea, and I doubt it would do anything for the mites. You would have to cover your roses with Sevin every 7-10 days. The mites are microscopic, you can't see them, so you'd be spraying a lot of pesticide for probably no reason.

The link from Missouri Botanical Garden is pretty educational, it might help someone who has bugs, or RRD. I spray my roses in the Spring to kill all kinds of bugs(aphids, Japanese beetles, ants.....), I don't spray for nothing. :-) I just found the link about Sevin can prevent RRD two weeks ago. I think it's a nice thing to know for all of us, that's why I am sharing this info here.

I squish them between my fingers unless I'm watering the roses anyway; they usually seem to be near the tops of the bushes so they're easy to find. Couldn't possibly bring myself to use poisons in my garden for whatever reason.

I know there are many older/old fashioned rose gardeners here, when you're retired you have all the time to kill the bugs one by one or two by two, I think that's great, you keep going. :-) For the young and restless gardeners, we have too many things to do, just not enough time.......work full time, and have other passions in life like riding, camping, kayaking, hiking......not a wild child, just have things to do, To take care about 500 roses after work before dark is a rush job for me. Spray is the only quick and easy way to take care of the bugs in my garden for now. I am sure many years from now when I am retired I'd join many of you kill the bugs one by one with my hands ( have to wear gloves).......we all have to kill the bugs before they kill our buds, that's one common goal for all of us. Squish, squish, spray, spray, all start with a magic "s". :-)

Cheers,

Summer

Summer, you don't need to patronize or belittle older gardeners. I have been growing roses for 30 years and I am quite certain that any damage done by aphids is cosmetic. You are choosing a nuclear option for a problem that doesn't exist.

Ok, guys, do what your hearts tell you. :-) I am in church right now. Peace! :-) God told me to spray, what can I say?!?! :-)

Oh my email in church! Extras for the confessional. Sorry couldn't resist.

;-)

I have my gardener kill all the bugs while I'm at yoga.

If you insist on spraying find an empty Windex spray bottle, put a squirt of dish soap in it and fill with water. Go out and spray the little buggers with that. It will kill them quickly and do far less damage to you or your garden.

Give me aphids all day long and I will give you my Thrips. Agree with Seil just spray them with dish soap. It will suffocate the guys but you will need to repeat every week they reproduce like crazy. If you have a 1 gal sprayer add one (1) tbl spoon to 1gl of water, mix and spray away. Not in the hot sun and you can use the cheep dollar store dish soap.