Problem with sambucus?

Standen1

Hi
just noticed this strange ‘growth’ in several places on the stem of my sambucus. From a distance I thought it was a mass of ants but nothing is moving and seems to be a dark purple color. Is this something I should be concerned about? If so, has anyone got any suggestions for treating it? I have tried looking online and also in gardening books but can’t find anything that looks like it so would really appreciate any info / suggestions on this please. Many thanks

gavpre

Looks like aphids/black fly. Just squish them with your fingers or wash them off with hose pipe.

Natural predators will eat them if you leave them. Ladybird larvae, hoverfly etc.

Lizzie27

Yes, it's blackfly. I have them on my carpenteria this year for the first time.

Standen1

Thanks very much everyone- glad it isn’t anything more serious that can’t be dealt with 🙂- may try the hose although with all the exceptionally heavy rain we’ve had recently would have thought that would have washed them off anyway. 

BobTheGardener

They resist water from above quite well.  Not so good when it comes to a fairly powerful hose spray setting from the side though!    

Fire

Wow. That's a lot of blackfly!

Dovefromabove

The soft young tips of Sambucus seem to attract a lot of blackfly at this time of year ... as has been said, natural predators will reduce their numbers ... if they don't get rid of them all a jet from a hosepipe usually does the job.    Attracting bluetits by hanging feeders in the area is a good longer term strategy which works for us. 

It happens to wild Sambucus too and doesn't seem to cause major problems for them ... they soon outgrow the infestation.