My shasta daisies are getting ready to bloom for the first time ever. I went out to check on them and there was this white foamy substance on them. One even had a wad of dead leaves. I took the hose and washed the stuff off left were some very small bugs that were whitish green and oval shaped. Anyone know what those are? I think I must spray or something. Any advice would be appreciated.

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gailo

Sounds like Spittle bugs to me... I get those darned things every spring, until things dry out around here. I know that you can kill them with strong doses of Sevin, although I hate to use that stuff.

Since they get on ANYTHING GREEN (& especially like my Strawberries & my 70 foot Iris row), it's easier to wash them off with the heavy spray setting on the hose nozzle. Some of them come back, but I keep doing it a few times a day till they're gone (usually not more than a couple weeks). They can't live without being inside that mass of bubbles they make, because they dry out real fast & die.

Other than the Cucumber Beatle, Spittle bugs are just about the only insect I have more than my share of! Good luck with your Daisies!

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I found some more of the spit bugs on my rosemary. I hope we have a cold winter.

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gailo