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Mystery Monday

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The image below is cropped in tight, and it was by far an extremely difficult shot to get.  I really edited it in both PS and LR in order to get as clear an image that I could, to make what I focused on to pop out.  My husband when he viewed the entire photograph, looked at me and asked, “How do you do this without a tripod?”  Well, gardening for one has made my hands and wrists very strong, and my Yoga training has taught me how to maintain low to the ground poses, while controlling my breath.  That being said …

My question to you today on Mystery Monday is ….

What is a small as a [.], if not smaller, that can in actuality kill a Rose bush? 

What this insect lacks in size, it makes up in the quantity it and its tribe attack a bush.  Not only this tiny predator, but the white fly, the caterpillar, the black ________ (same as this insect but only black), and Japanese Beetles are ferocious when it comes to Roses.  When I first grew my Roses, I did not put anything on them because insects did not bother them.  Over the years, the insects have literally exploded, and now are going right through anything that I used, seemingly unfazed with just about everything that is put on Roses to kill them.  I am so thankful that my brother knows a Horticulturist who recommended a product to spray on my Roses, which worked.  As you will see in the photo below, I have proof that it does work.

Are there any gardeners out there who recognize this tiny but deadly parasite?  What I find fascinating, is this insect’s way of travel, weaving webs to buds and to new tender growth, to make an easy access for it and all of its companions as they go from one area of the Rose bush to an other, leaving death in their wake.  Fascinating, yet at the same time, leaves me with such dread knowing that my Roses I have worked with to make a beautiful home for, are being consumed by insects such as the ______.

My blogging at best has been spotty lately, and it will continue to be so for a while.  I am pouring my Heart into my gardens right now, wanting only the Earth to bring comfort to me.  My Heart is just still really struggling with the passing of my Dad.  I am also spending more time with my cats who require my attention right now.

I have so many gorgeous images to show you, but all in good time.

I leave you this image today, keeping comments open so that those of you who believe they can identify this insect can leave their answer in the comments.  All other comments are welcome as well, yet, today, I will not be answering any accept the answers to my question:  Can you identify this insect?  I will also answer any comments from those of who who would like to know which product I used to kill ALL parasites that had invaded my Roses.  May all of you have a really good day!

LR edited (1 of 1)-8

Macro Photography/ “Mystery Monday” 2015©AmyRose

59 thoughts on “Mystery Monday”

  1. Thanks for the referral Amy….if you could direct me to the product, I will see if I can find it/or similar here in Portland. I think my nearby Birch tree is attracting the Aphids and they in turn are attacking my roses and my Magnolia tree. Have wedding in back yard in 20 days and need to act NOW!!! 🙂

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    1. The product is called Spectracide Triazidcide Insect Killer/ For Lawns & Landscapes. I bought mine at Amazon, but perhaps a local nursery where you live carries this. It is extremely potent, so please read ALL precautions and mix exactly as is recommended. I am trying to figure out how often I can reapply. Some sites say 8-10 days, others say 4 weeks. I am just keep a close eye on my Roses and when I see the parasites again, I will again spray. I’ve never seen so bad!!! Good luck!!!! Love, Amy ❤

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      2. PS I cannot stress enough, the information regarding respray seems to be contradictory. The label says UP to 8 weeks, which could mean just about anything. The official site in the questions and answers says 8 weeks. What I am going to do, is to keep a close eye on my roses, and when I see these insects on the NEW growth, will spray with a hand sprayer, just the new growth. Hope this helps you. These insects are truly vexing! Good luck to you! ❤

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    2. Switters, I just found out this spray will kill bees. I am SO heart sick over this I am contemplating on digging up all my Roses just to save the bees. My head is in my hands. I honestly don’t know what to do. Nothing is stopping these insects that kill Roses, and if I cannot stop them with a GREEN product, I would rather not have Roses. Believe me, this is just about wringing my Heart into a million pieces!

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      1. understand…I will try the less invasive soap bit and see what happens. I have already suffered extraordinary damage just this week…out of no where…bare branches and leaves on the ground. Very disheartening. I was already struggling with black spot. Your heart is in the right place…a solution must exist. Frankly, I rarely see a honey bee and I have plenty of lovely bee friendly plantings…a neighbor has hives but they rarely venture the 200′ to visit my backyard. Saving grace is bees rarely seem to visit roses. Loves to you precious lady.

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  2. Great photo shot, and yes Aphids are pesky little critters who do a lot of damage in a short space of time.. who multiply like mad… We had our roses covered, the new tender shoots just forming into buds were a mass of them.. We don’t like using sprays either.. And use nothing upon our veggies.. But hubby mixed up a spray to get rid of them as they soon cover everything..
    Glad to be catching up Amy… and yes gardening is upon my list of priorities at the moment 🙂 Enjoy your week xxx ❤ Mega hugs Sue

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    1. Sue, what did your hubby use to get rid of the aphids? I have a real mess on my hands now, having used a chemical that will kill bees. Oh, Sue, I am in tears! I trusted a horticulturist without doing my own research. Do I dig up my Roses just to save the bees? Or is there something else I can do to neutralize what I put on them? Oh man oh man oh man ….

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      2. Sue, I am not digging up my Roses. Someone gave me a site that I went to and bought an organic spray. I will check out what you have sent me here. Thank you! This has been a nightmare. It is coming down there is not too many people nowadays I can honestly trust word of mouth recommendations. And yes, it is my fault as well, for not researching. I have so much I am contending with right now, Sue. Just too much. (((HUGS))) Amy ❤

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      3. Yes and when you feel as you do every mole hill or aphid seems like a Mountain or Monster!!… lol.. so I know all will be well… Deep breaths and all will be well in your world.. xxx

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      4. Bless you, my friend. I finally have everything finished inside so that I now can head outdoors to at least bring out my tools and such, rearrange the flowers where I want to plant them, so that I can continue to plant. The Earth will help Balance me like no one else can! (((HUGS))) Amy ❤

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    1. Amy, I experimented with the radial filter with this image. I just wanted you to know. My Roses have been under seige and it is horrifying to watch. It rained here very heavily yesterday and last night, so I wait to see if what I used to kill these insects held. Thank you also, for saying “what a macro shot”. This one was I think the most difficult one I have done yet. Focusing on something as small as a period at the end of a sentence and getting it in clear …. whew!

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      1. The radial filter is great, isn’t it. I need to practice on it. I recall the experience you had with your rose bushes last year… We are getting a lot of rain here, roses are not responding. 😦

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      2. Amy, you have to examine your roses closely. These insects are so tiny, some so much so, they are not even visible to the naked eye. If your roses are infested, they will die. 😦

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      4. You are welcome!!! If you need a recommendation as to what to use, I will tell you what the Horitculturist told my brother to tell me that works. Good luck, Ame!!!! ❤

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      6. OH, Ame, I just thought of this to tell you. To really make sure about the insects, take a plain WHITE piece of paper (like typing paper) and hold it under a bud/leaves/stem while you gently shake what you are holding. When you see tiny dots on the paper, those are the insects that are killing your roses. They don’t look like much, but believe me, they are horrible.

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    1. Yes, Ann. An aphid. If you grow Roses, you really know how tiny this insect is. I hope you are well, my friend. Thank you so much for coming to Petals today. Know you are Loved. (((HUGS))) Amy ❤

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    1. The last two years have been terrible. I’ve seen an increase in aphids with a decrease in Japanese Beetles. And the sheer numbers are mind boggling. I’ve also begun to see white flies (a never before) and, more catepillers that will chew through a bud in a matter of hours. I don’t know if the pesticides are making these bugs more ferocious or our very cold winters. And yes I do have time right now, Kathie. I was laying down really thinking about my Dad in tears. I just want to hear his voice one more time and to be able to hold him like a child before he died. Sorry, Kath. My Heart is just busting lately with tears. Love you! Amy ❤

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      1. It may be a combination of both the winter and the pesticides. Not a expert at all. Sending {{{{virtual hugs}}} to you. I understand the grief that you are going through right now. Felt the same way about my grandma since we were so close. You never get over it but it does get easier over time. This is still so fresh for you. Tears our good. Love you ❤ Kathy

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  7. Ugh- that’s so frustrating! And I’m so sorry about your loss; I knew it had occurred, and that grieving can take a long time…some losses seem to stick with us forever, but we learn to cope with them in new ways. I’m thinking of you and your dad- and your cats! And your family! XO

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    1. Sending Much Love to you, Melissa, for your caring Heartfelt words. I’m just having such a tough time about my Dad. I think I had been in shock but now the pain is so acute. Planting is helping so much as well as being with my cats. (((HUGS))) Amy ❤

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  9. aphid … have them too … reluctantly used malathion 1 month ago … the flowers hadn’t opened yet.
    when they are open, you will also kill all the bees and other beautiful insects.
    aphids are beautiful creatures too, they can dance and enjoy the sun … as in silent share 13

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    1. Bert, what I used is a herbacide. If I had not, my Roses would not have survived. I grow many flowers inclusive of Lavender for the bees. I do not share your love for aphids, sorry. The damage they do is from something out of a nightmare. I’ve tried introducing toads, ladybugs, grow chives all in with my Roses hoping those things would be enough. They were not. I go GREEN as much as I can even with our grass. These insects here for the past 2 years have been vicious, totally out of control. I am HOPING things balance out soon ……

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    2. Bert, you are correct in telling me what I sprayed on my Roses will kill bees. I took the word of an “expert” instead of doing research, and now have a real mess on my hands. I’m to the point of digging up all my Roses just to save the bees. I am just Heart sick.

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      1. … shouldn’t dig up the roses … if 100 bees die, that is not a disaster … you can also protect the bees by putting mosquito-net material around them for 2 weeks, or in the worst case, cut of the rose flowers and put them in a vase inside …

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      2. Bert, thank you for the suggestions and no I will not dig up my Roses. I was so upset thinking I would harm the bees when I am doing all I can to help them. I’ve decided to let the buds open, photograph them, and then snip them off quickly to give to a neighbor until I know that this chemical is completely gone. I will wait the full 8 weeks until I allow any flowers to remain. What a lesson. I’m stumbling. I’ve been trying to maintain balance in my gardens for years without chemicals, but any gardener will tell you how difficult that is. I’m trying and yes made a big mistake. I bought a product someone recommended which is organic. My last post explaiins. Thank you again for your input. I so appreciate it!!!! Love, Amy ❤

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  10. Aphids multiply so readily, I can imagine they can be a nightmare. I fill a spray bottle with soapy water and use the spray jet setting and it works well for me. Initially it has to be done often, but with time, less often. Good luck!

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    1. Eliza, I tried the soapy water. Again this year, and gosh darn it, if they just didn’t keep on coming. I’ve never seen anything like this, never since I have had my Roses. It really concerns me that with all the pesticides used, these bugs have become really resistant to most anything. I was forced to use an herbacide that is really strong, and I cringe, just cringe, my friend, because of it. People who don’t grow Roses don’t understand how ferocious these teeny bugs can be, especially with the numbers I’ve seen. I hope for you that the soap keeps working. I first used it when I saw a few aphids, and when I blinked, I was infested with them. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to figure out a way NOT to use chemicals. 😦 Love, Amy ❤

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  12. Oh, Amy! You can make the most tiny bug or detail really shine and look beautiful, which is exactly how our God would wish us to view his creations! hugs and smiles, Robin

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    1. Robin, even though this insect is a parasite, I did see the beauty in it and the web that was woven, the aphid highway. Thank you for BEing here at Petals at a time in my Life that my Heart is just so heavy missing my Dad. Bless you! Love, Amy ❤

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    1. I’ve done it, John. And with toads as well. There are just too many aphids and the ladybugs do not stay. A very kind soul recommended an organic spray to use on my Roses, and I bought some last night. In the meantime, all the buds on my Roses that will be opening, I will allow to open, get pictures of them, and then cut them off, bringing the bouquet of Roses to my neighbor. My cats eat flowers so I cannot bring any into the house. I am combining this comment with my next post, that says I made a huge mistake regarding what I sprayed my Roses with. Trying to keep a balanced, natural garden within a world that is so out of balance is one of the hardest tasks I have undertaken. Anyone who gardens knows how great the challenges are. Love, Amy ❤

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  15. Great photo, but sad for your roses Amy. I wonder if a garlic spray would help. Only a suggestion as I’m no gardener really, but have tried this on some plants with limited success. Good luck with it all anyway. Love, Chris x

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    1. I have chives growing now in between my Roses, Raewyn, when someone mentioned that they will help repel insects. They don’t. I’ve tried just about everything. Now I am about to try an organic spray that I just bought. Thank you so much for the suggestion. Love, Amy ❤

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  18. Fantastic. Shakespeare Quick Quotes

    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
    Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
    – Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio

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