CLOSED: these "things" on my sunflower maximillian??

silverskigh Meshoppen, PA Aug 03, 2009

they are on several leaves. i notice they line up along the center. and i cant tell what the ants think of them. what are they? are they good or bad? what, if anything, should i do about them?
thanks!!

Post #6900360

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 03, 2009

I can't tell for certain, but these might be nymphs of a lace bug (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Tingidae), tiny sap-sucking bugs. The ants may be trying to obtain some 'sweets' from them. If you find any insects that look like those at http://tinyurl.com/nmpan6 (adult lace bugs), that would confirm the identity. In any case, these are not doing any good to your sunflowers. You could try washing them off with a strong stream of water, or use a an application of insecticidal soap.

Post #6901017

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silverskigh Meshoppen, PA Aug 03, 2009

so i checked out the lace bug, i dont think thats it. in this photo, in between the two ants, you can see a very large one. the head looks to be huge compared to the others. they look like they have some kind of stinger?? and striped body with yellow legs. i tried to blow the photo up a little so its a tad less clear. but hopefully it zooms enough to see the details.

Post #6901317

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 03, 2009

they sure look like lace bugs to me. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=lace+bugs&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

Post #6902365

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 03, 2009

After looking more carefully at your second image, I'm now inclined to believe that they could be nymphs of a planthopper (Hemiptera/Auchenorrhyncha; family Membracidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/n2agh9 for a group of three nymphs and five adults on a sunflower leaf.

Post #6902452

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silverskigh Meshoppen, PA Aug 03, 2009

Yes! After researching plant hopper nymphs, i found some called immature Keeled Tree Hoppers, Antianthe expansa. Thanks suunto! Do you know all these, or do you look them all up as they come? Youre a bug genius! : )
but heres the pic...
http://images.whatsthatbug.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/treehopper_nymphs_tomato.jpg
Bad ants for farming on my sunflower! I'm going to cut the infested leaves off and burn them, then give it a spray down to discourage those ants from farming on MY sunflower max!