JNJ wrote:

don't have a pest identification guide (any www resources appreciated),
but
in the meantime, if anyone can identify the pests at:

http://www.lpmd.org/gardens/spirea1.jpg and
http://www.lpmd.org/gardens/spirea2.jpg

i would certainly appreciate it. they don't seem to be stressing the plant
in any way, but i'm just trying to ascertain (1) what they are; and (2)
what, if anything, i should do about them. i'd like to avoid poisions if i
can.

Ya got aphids there, John. Obviously they're not good for the plant but
the solution is pretty easy and quick -- go down to your local nursery and
buy yourself a whole boatload of lady beetles. In the evening, dump them
all over the shrubs -- they'll eat 'em right up and then likely stick around
to help ensure the little buggers never come back.

A bit of patience, and the native ladybugs will nail them inside of two
weeks. No real need to import them.