"Kandi" wrote in message
om...
My neighbor has 2 beautiful willow trees that provide shade in my
yard, and a source of visual enjoyment. Recently she has started
cutting one of them down and plans to level both of them due to an
enormous amount of tiny (2-5cm) red bugs, 6 legged, red bodied, with 2
little yellowish points on its back end. I mean tons of then, all
over every branch. These little guys seem harmless, although messy as
they spew a reddish color when flattened, and the tree is raining
sticky sap as well. They dont fly, or bite. But the amount is
overwhelming to her. I don't mind sweeping them off my deck, but I am
so sad that these trees will no longer be a part of our backyard. Is
there anything we can do? Can I tell her this will pass with the
season, will the bugs return? or leave? Is her cutting down the
trees the best solution?
Thanks for your time, and patience in my less than knowledgeable state
on these things.

Call a tree specialist and/or submit some of the insects to your extension
agency (there is one in every county if you are in the US.) Until the
problem is diagnosed, you can't consider a cure. I have to admit that if I
had several trees raining down 5cm ( 2 inch) bugs, I would be looking for a
solution but I find it curious that someone would cut a tree down as the
FIRST response to an infestation of unidentified insects. There is always a
chance that the insects are just resting in the tree on there way to
somewhere. The other possibility is that the tree is infested with aphids,
and the insects that are bothering you are simply there to control the
primary infestation - but then I can't think of a 5 cm insect that would
fall into that category.