Identify these bugs on my Common Ivy please!

shoktichai

Hi all! I've got an infestation of these critters on my Common Ivy - please help!

I've got it more or less under control with Proranto now - I was hoping not to have to resort to chemicals, as I didn't want to kill the good insects - but these little buggers left me no choice. 

Even after Proranto - they keep popping back up - anyone know what these are?? I thought that maybe they were aphids - but the ladybugs don't eat them, and they seem too small to be black aphids?

They tend to cluster on new growth - overwhelming it completely.

wild edges

Can't tell from the photos but there is an ivy aphid https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Aphis_hederae_ivy_aphid.htm

Not really a chemical user but I think Provanto is a contact only pesticide so you just have to keep using it as you see the bugs. Soapy water would do the job just as well though or blast them off with the hose.

shoktichai

Thanks! Yes - I tried soapy water first, but it wasn't doing the trick - I applied Provanto a couple of weeks ago - and this is the second dose to mop up the stragglers. 

I hate seeing all the lovely spiders dying though But I had no choice - these guys were killing my lovely ivy 

nutcutlet

shoktichai said:

Thanks! Yes - I tried soapy water first, but it wasn't doing the trick - I applied Provanto a couple of weeks ago - and this is the second dose to mop up the stragglers. 

I hate seeing all the lovely spiders dying though But I had no choice - these guys were killing my lovely ivy 

you had a choice and you made it. So you killed spiders and bird food. Well done

Dovefromabove

It takes more than bugs to kill ivy .......... 

You thought you had bugs on that ivy last year ... they were adventitious roots
... https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1030597/eggs-on-ivy-what-is-this#latest

... I think you should stop worrying about bugs ... encourage the birds and hoverflies lacewings, wasps and ladybirds ... they'll eat any bugs you may have on your plants.

Fairygirl

I wouldn't have time to inspect ivy for any insects, aphids or otherwise, although the wee spiders and their dewdrop laden webs are always a delight when it's misty, moisty morning. 
Ivy is virtually impossible to kill, as has been said, especially by a few insects. Aphids will do no harm whatsoever - they provide food for other wildlife. 
My mouse family lives in  mine too. 

Dovefromabove

Just googled Provanto .... it's a systemic so it's killing all the good critters that eat the bad ones 😭

shoktichai

To add some context - I'm on a balcony...on the 8th floor...in central London ... the ivy is in a balcony pot - and I love it because it was the first plant I planted on my balcony, and it's thriving - well it was at least, until these little critters showed up. And the plant won't be just fine if I leave it alone - leaves are already getting deformed and covered in sooty mold due to the insects. 

Insect vs roots: they're definitely insects - like I said, they visibly colonise and overwhelm new leaves and shoot growths. Just look at the photos that I have attached - they're tiny - but clearly insects of some kind. I've even had to amputate shoots because they were getting so badly damaged by the insects. 

Insect killer: the reason 'leave it to nature' doesn't work in my case is that it is a closed ecosystem. I'm 8 floors up - there are no natural garden insect predators up here - the only birds that fly up here are pigeons and they aren't going to be eating aphids. Ladybirds don't fly 8 floors up either. 

So now that you have some context, I would appreciate it if people could back off on the insect repellent hate. If you don't like it - please keep your opinion to yourself. I'm asking about the insect - not your opinion on insect repellents. I only expressed regret at having to use it - I wasn't expecting random online virtue signalling from total strangers. I will ignore any further comments - as this is the internet, and I'm sure with everyone at home and nothing better to do, more people will troll this post with virtue signalling. 

However, thank you to those that are taking the time to actually answer my question without judgement.  

Fairygirl

It would have helped if you'd thought to give that information to start with 
Anything in a pot is a totally different thing altogether, let alone on a balcony 8 floors up.
Ivy is unlikely to thrive in those conditions I'm afraid.

Dovefromabove

As Fairy says, if you'd given us that information before we could have given you better advice ... we gave you the advice we would give to someone growing ivy in a garden.  You can't blame us for not knowing your ivy is a virtual houseplant. 

 Ivy is a woodland and hedgerow plant and needs a deep cool root-run ... there are other plants that would be much happier on your balcony and give you the greenery you obviously want.   It will struggle in the conditions you've told us about, even with the best care you can give it ... and a struggling plant will always be vulnerable to insects and other problems.

If you would like us to make some suggestions of foliage plants  more suitable for your growing space just let us know.  

  

Fairygirl

@Songbird-1- just read the previous post by the OP. This isn't a 'normal' sort of planting, hence our subsequent responses.