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Rocky Mountain Gardening

What are these bugs on Peonies?

13 days ago

Anyone recognize these bugs that are on my peonies? These are on two different plants. The first one is fairly large and was on the foliage. The second pic shows there are multiple bugs on this other plants bloom and inside of the flower. The foliage and bloom look fine on both plants, but want to be sure if these are harmful bugs or not.

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Comments (10)

Oladon
12 days ago
I don't know what those are, but...

Your peonies are blooming already?!??!
mstywoods
Original Author
9 days ago
Hi Oladon! Yes, in Kansas they sure are. Still not sure what kind of bugs these are. Have tried searching to find out but nothing looks quite like them. They disappeared the next day so guess I won't worry about it unless they reappear!
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Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
9 days ago
last modified: 9 days ago
Hi Misty,

I don't know what they are either! isn't that helpful!!! The first one reminded me of a stink bug, but when I searched images I was wrong about that! Glad they at least went away for you.

Since I'm signed in right now I just wanted to stop by and say: HI! Glad to see you here again!

I hope the nasty weather that's been moving thru near you lately has missed you! It looked like there was some really nasty stuff not too far from you! Be ready to run for your tornado shelter!

Skybird

05.05.24 @ 1722 MDT
Melissa Kansas 5b/6a
yesterday
Misty I think the top one is an assassin bug or something similar. They are beneficial by eating eggs, leafhoppers, aphids etc. I’m also from Kansas but no peonies here yet.
Melissa Kansas 5b/6a
yesterday
The bottom picture looks familiar… kind of like a water beetle? If you see more I’ll dig deeper.
mstywoods
Original Author
yesterday
Thanks Melissa. I have not seen any bugs on any of my peonies since so guess it may have been a fluke. I'll keep an eye out though! What part of Kansas are you from? I am in the E portion, 60 miles south of KC. I've only had a few blooms on 2 plants. The one plant that had the most was one that I didn't plant but was a surprise when we were clearing out some brush! It's the largest too. My other plants were transplants from when we moved here. They are really small so guess they are still acclimating. I've been checking the light in the garden bed where they are as I've noticed my iris and the peonies are not blooming well. The SunCalc sunlight calculator tool says that area is only partial shade so that may be the problem. I may have to redo the bed and move these plants to a sunnier location. It's weird as I really thought this area was sunny when I originally made it. Perhaps the trees are leafing out more now or later in the summer the sun angle may change and hit this area better, which was when I initially planned the bed.
Melissa Kansas 5b/6a
yesterday
I am in nw Kansas. So quite a difference! I consider my irises partially shaded but they do well. Just got the first blooms on those yesterday. My peonies are getting close.
mstywoods
Original Author
yesterday
Oh right, very different weather patterns between the two! My irises have wonderful looking foliage but no blooms :( Only two have bloomed and one of those had a misshaped one and 2 buds never formed. These were also plants that I transplanted when I moved almost 2 years ago, but moved them from one temp spot to this bed a year ago. So maybe roots are still forming. Both the peonies and the irises were from plants that were doing very well in Colorado. The peonies though were babies from the mother plant so they may need more time to grow and mature. I have the iris knees showing so not sure why they aren't blooming if the partial shade isn't the issue - they do get direct sun in the late morning and some in late afternoon, filtered light in between those times due to the trees.
Melissa Kansas 5b/6a
yesterday
Yes peonies take forever to get big enough to flower! Send a picture of the irises. I’m curious!
Melissa Kansas 5b/6a
23 hours ago
Here are my first iris blooms and the very first peony almost there. Taken just now.

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