Blackfly Invasion

I don't recall ever seeing such an infestation of blackfly on my echinops before! They're being protected, and milked, by black ants, and there's a few ladybird lavae there too.

[Jacqueline]

That’s a good close-up, it brings Old McDonald had a farm to mind ;)

[Susan Wakely]

I will send my hover flies in your direction.

[Granny7(Denise)]

Great close up

[Joan Robillard]

Lovely

[KoalaGardens🐨]

oh wow and they are tiny

[katy]

There’s a whole zoo on that stem. An amazing close-up view of all of them at work!

[wendy frost]

A whole community of insects on your plant to watch. Great capture

[Annie-Sue]

Ghastly! I've got them on my centaura for the first time - not as bad as this, but I'm pulling it up - on a bug'free bit of the stem and throwing it in the bin.

[Kathy]

Hope they dont damage your plants. Good close up.

[Kathy A]

Oh dear, I hope the plant survives

[Shutterbug]

That looks like a pretty bad infestation. I hope the plants survive.

[KWind]

So many!! Great close up.

[Shanne]

and you may see wasps too - I've got some of my best wasp shots of them feeding on aphid infestations

[Peter]

Amazing closeup detail, colours and use of a shallow depth of field to show it them off Jackie, Fav:)

[Dave]

We have them on everything in our garden it seems. They don't take kindly to a good wash with soapy water although I normally leave them but this year there are so many.