I have this dwarf orange tree in my yard (SF bay area in CA). Last year
during the summer and recently this year I noticed that at the very top of
the plant (end of highest branches) there was a cluster of small black bugs
and they were being tended to by a stream of ants (they did not look like
ant larve).

What are these bugs?

Do I need to get rid of them vigorously? (they don't seem to be causing much
plant stress)

Are they aphids (they look larger and blacker than what I thought)? Do I
remove the effected leaves to evict the bugs or do I control the ants?

In article . net,
says...
What are these bugs?

Do I need to get rid of them vigorously? (they don't seem to be causing much
plant stress)

Are they aphids (they look larger and blacker than what I thought)? Do I
remove the effected leaves to evict the bugs or do I control the ants?

Probably aphids..if they aren't out of control you probably could just
use a stream of water form the hose to remove them.

--
Lar

to email....get rid of the BUGS

AutoTracer wrote:

I have this dwarf orange tree in my yard (SF bay area in CA). Last year
during the summer and recently this year I noticed that at the very top of
the plant (end of highest branches) there was a cluster of small black bugs
and they were being tended to by a stream of ants (they did not look like
ant larve).

What are these bugs?

Do I need to get rid of them vigorously? (they don't seem to be causing much
plant stress)

Are they aphids (they look larger and blacker than what I thought)? Do I
remove the effected leaves to evict the bugs or do I control the ants?

The ants are protecting aphids from ladybugs and other predators.
The ants will even move the aphids to new growth. You must control
the ants even if you are otherwise successful in eliminating the
aphids.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at URL:http://www.rossde.com/garden/

Aphids come in most colors of the rainbow, I have seen green, black,
white,orange and yellow.
You have most likely aphids.
Blast em with water.
Use hot pepper wax
Use insecticidal soap
Rub em dead with your thumb