These are all over my garden - especially on the newly-budding carnations (pix attached). Also on the fuchsias, purple sage, nastursiums and flowering maple. This seems to be a bad infestation. Are they aphids and what will I have to do to clean up the garden and get rid of them? I'm worried about the hummingbirds getting poisoned if I use an insecticide. Thanks to all. Rusty :(
Rusty, they sure look like aphids to me.
Try insecticidal soap for starters. You might even be able to blast them off with a high powered stream of water from the hose. (However, then they can still get back on your plants.) I'm not sure, but horticultural oil might deter them some by smothering them.
If you could get your hands on some praying mantis, they would eat them. There are probably other preditors for aphids, including some kinds of birds.
I'm with you on not poisoning the hummers!
Best of luck!
Kay
Here is a picture of aphids: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7539598@N04/719296587/
