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I'm trying to figure out this bug that I have now found on Dandelions roots last year and this year.
Last year, I found several dandelions with these bugs close to my new climbing rose. It died even though I treated it in case of infestation.
Now, I have a couple of shrubs that are looking pretty bad and I used Bayer tree/shrub insecticide to save them. They are coming around but I'm worried about my other plants. Is this bug something I should be afraid of? What can I do to rid my beds of them?
I haven't seen these bugs on any other weed roots, just dandelions.
These appear to be root aphids - see http://tinyurl.com/ljlxb6 for an example. As far as I know, there are no root aphids that attack roses. There are at least two species (Aphis armoraciae and Aphis middletoni) that reportedly feed on both dandelions and asters. As these aphids are underground, spraying will not control them unless you can fins a systemic insecticide that the plants will take up. Otherwise, your best bet simply is to control the dandelions the best you can.
