I did the no-no and put this on the Garden Pests Forum as well. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/800081/
I can't answer any questions outside the picture, as the photo was sent to me and I haven't seen the plant. It's a Dutch iris with "things" on it. What are the egg-like things? Eggs? Will she need to get rid of the entire pot?
Just wash them off or squish them...look like mealy bugs to me.
They look too small for mealy bugs. It's hard to tell from the photo, but I think they are aphids. Can be washed off, or mashed off, or there are lots of sprays on the market.
I don't know what it is but I had them once on a rose; hosed them out w/ water and that was it.
LOL, you could right, aphids may be what they are... I call them all "little buggers", but they do wash off and they hate soapy water! I mix a sprayer with dishwasher soap, some listerine and water and a little cooking oil, and spray my plants to keep them off.
