Our backyard is being invaded...what the FRACK are these things?

[teflon6string]

Do they congregate on the south (sunlit) side of your house? Usually in the cooler fall on sunny afternoons?

If they do, whatever they are, they're hiding in the frame of your house and coming out to sun when it's warm (like elm beetles and box elder bugs). Buy a gallon of bug spray at Lowes/HD and soak them when they're out en masse. Most will die immediately. Those that survive for a little while, or crawl through the residual, will scuttle back under your siding and eaves, spreading the poison where tens of thousands of their buddies are nesting. Repeat a couple times and you're good for a year or two.

It sucks when they infest inside your house. On Thanksgiving. With company. (Not to be too specific.)

Some exterminators will charge you LOTS of money to put you on a quarterly or bi-monthly "plan." But some will not do it for any amount because they don't like customers calling them back to complain when (not if) the bugs return.

If none of that is happening, then disregard. Good luck finding out what you have there.

 

[Camelfilter]

Do they congregate on the south (sunlit) side of your house? Usually in the cooler fall on sunny afternoons?

If they do, whatever they are, they're hiding in the frame of your house and coming out to sun when it's warm (like elm beetles and box elder bugs). Buy a gallon of bug spray at Lowes/HD and soak them when they're out en masse. Most will die immediately. Those that survive for a little while, or crawl through the residual, will scuttle back under your siding and eaves, spreading the poison where tens of thousands of their buddies are nesting. Repeat a couple times and you're good for a year or two.

It sucks when they infest inside your house. On Thanksgiving. With company. (Not to be too specific.)

Some exterminators will charge you LOTS of money to put you on a quarterly or bi-monthly "plan." But some will not do it for any amount because they don't like customers calling them back to complain when (not if) the bugs return.

If none of that is happening, then disregard. Good luck finding out what you have there.

First time we've ever seen them, I assume the wind/storm brought them down from the trees. But I don't like to assume...

 

[Camelfilter]

https://www.amazon.com/1500-Live-Ladybugs-Guaranteed-Delivery/dp/B00533KOIC

Could be. Google foo notes most larval stage colorations as yellow though. Hmm.

 

[teflon6string]

First time we've ever seen them, I assume the wind/storm brought them down from the trees. But I don't like to assume...

Those that keep trying to set up housekeeping in the walls of my two-story mid-century structure with wood siding have no intention of moving back to the trees they came from. RIP you sorry bastiges.

 

[Kristina]

Could be. Google foo notes most larval stage colorations as yellow though. Hmm.

I think he was posting that because lady bugs are ravenous aphid eaters.

 

[Camelfilter]

I think he was posting that because lady bugs are ravenous aphid eaters.

Ahh...did not know that. Brilliant! Simply brilliant!

 

[etrain16]

I did some Google-fu and have to agree that those are aphids - they come in different colors, but the black with the little red spikes are definitely one kind of aphid. Yep, get some ladybugs, they love eating those things!

 

[Raidingtime]

Ahha! Presentation fits the Google - foo life cycle description. Thanks! We've been Google fooing off & on all day trying to figure them out.

Muchos gracias!

The best way to deal with them are lady bugs. You can pick up a sack at most nurseries for a small sum of money.

 

[Camelfilter]

Great! Thanks all, appreciate the ID & moreso the eradication tip. Splendid!

 

[clearconscience]

Trees that are infested with aphids will end up feeling like it raining underneath. The liquid coming down is called aphid nectar...but it is urine. And If there is a car underneath, or concrete, it ends up getting sticky and smeary. Gross.

Maybe it's semen

 

[Brutus57]

Zombie death lice... save your last round for yourself when the change starts...

Brutus Out

 

[Joe13]

Look more like a beetle then an aphid to me.

Size comparison with a coin would help.

Aphids don't get as large as those appear to be - I though ants heard them for food.

 

[Camelfilter]

Look more like a beetle then an aphid to me.

Size comparison with a coin would help.

Aphids don't get as large as those appear to be - I though ants heard them for food.

Yah, coin would have helped. "Big" ones are about 2-3mm.

 

[ron]

Show your neighbors what you do to home invaders.
Aerial application of agent orange.

 

[cascadianliberty2012]

Aliens man... they're obviously interdimensional shapeshifting reptoid pig-demons!

 

[AMProducts]

Yah, coin would have helped. "Big" ones are about 2-3mm.

Yea, aphids, I thought they were like the size of my thumb by the photos.

 

[Camelfilter]

First image showed me you have leaves invading your backyard.

That's the willow. It starts to drop early, the wind yesterday morning helped it out some. Gonna wait a few days before I rake them up, else I'll be raking every day for the next month...

 

[CHLChris]

That's why he showed the little teacup from a distance, to show that the edge of the white teacup made those buggers to be very small, indeed. I believe aphids is possible. I've never seen so many of disparate sizes, though...

 

[Camelfilter]

...I've never seen so many of disparate sizes, though...

Great, not only is our yard invaded, now it's invaded by MUTANTS!

 

[pokerace]

Had a bunch of them around yesterday, trying to get into the house. We call them stink bugs.