[sharky]

I want these damn things nuked! 

[DD.]

I can't see anything!

[Kagganz]

Eurgh................. and double  yuk 

[woodburner]

Bottom one is an aphid the top one, I don't know, but it looks like it's about to eat the aphid. 
If you 'nuke' the aphids, you also kill all the predators, (unless you have some kind of aphid specific nemadoe thingies - don't think there is one yet though) and it takes much longer for predators to recover their populations than it does for the pests.
If you have any ants in the area try putting some jam or sweet stuff on the plants with the aphids, and with a bit of lluck the ants will do the job for you. mwahahaha 

[andreadon]

if it's about to eat an aphid, i'd say it's not a pest.
anything that eats an aphid is a beneficial insect and to be encouraged.

if you've got them, don't even think about getting rid of them - you'll end up getting lits of lovely pest killing insects into your plot. if it eats an aphid, it's a meat-eater and won't touch your veggies, so encourage them! It's an all you can eat buffet!

[andreadon]

it's definitely a beetle rather than an insect.

[Salmo]

What is the plant? Do theyscuttle away when disturbed or do they move slowly?

[Bombers]

Looks like a shield bug., but it's got really strange markings? I dont think it's a problem bug?? hopefully someone else will possitively identify it soon?

[poultrygeist]

I agree with Bombers. I think there's about 9 million varieties of shield bug so could just be an odd one.
Don't think they do anythign other than sit there looking strange.

Rob

[sharky]

indeed, he could be a baby shield bug.  :happy:
the others are eating my plants though. 

[paintedlady]

apparently aphids can be brushed off/knocked off with a spray of water and they cannot climb back up the plant.  Soapy water is effective against soft bodied aphids and has no lasting effects which can harm beneficial insects such as bees and ladybirds.   Have to admit I have no idea what the other bug is, but its leg positions remind me of weevils for some reason.

[sharky]

These bug creature things are making me creepy. 

[Salmo]

What is the plant? Do theyscuttle away when disturbed or do they move slowly?

If you answer this I may be able to help you. It looks like mother aphid and I think the others are her babies. Aphids are often specific to one plant or plant family and if you tell me the plant I may be able to help.

[sharky]

What is the plant? Do theyscuttle away when disturbed or do they move slowly?

If you answer this I may be able to help you. It looks like mother aphid and I think the others are her babies. Aphids are often specific to one plant or plant family and if you tell me the plant I may be able to help.

They hardly move when disturbed/plant being a pepper plant.

[daffodildaphne]

They make you creepy, Sharky?  In what exactly?

Also, I've heard of a bicarb solution that is supposed to get rid of something - not sure if it's for pests or disease.