In message , FF
writes
On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 15:45:04 +0100, simon wrote:

Hello everyone.

We have a 25 year old green acer and a 20 year old red acer planted
within 6 feet of each other. Yesterday, for the first time, my wife
noticed lots of tiny blackish bugs (about 1/2mm long) on all the buds of
both plants. There are none on the branches. Does anyone know what they
might be and how we can get rid of them? We are novices in the gardening
world so any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Simon.

I don't have a definitive answer but I don't see that a quick squirt
with **very**
dilute washing up liquid would do any harm to the plants and might
upset the bugs.
It works very well with greenfly and blackfly.
I'm a novice too and very envious of your Acers - mine's a foot high
and just about
survived it's first winter. They are so beautiful, don't you think?

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Liz

Thanks for the reply Liz. My green-fingered mother-in-law has suggested
that we apply dilute washing-up liquid. My wife is going to try this
today. As you put it - fingers crossed. I'd still like to know what
these little bugs are though. And yes, the acers are the best features
in our garden.

Cheerio,
Simon.