Bugs on my tree

[evansmummy]

I planted an acer palmatum in November and have just noticed tiny black things on the leaves. Can anyone tell me what they are and if I need to get rid of them? If so, how? Thanks in advance

Are they like little flat shells with fluff underneath? if more insecty then spray asap. Go to your local garden centre for the right spray.

I can't see fluff, when i take them off and squas them they are kind of brown inside (yuk). Is it an aphid do you think? I'm such a novice!

ok do they have legs? wings?
I am rubbish at links but if you copy and paste the link below these are some of the best close ups of aphids I can find.

To be honest whatever they are there are a couple of things you can do. 1st of all if you have a hose you can blast them off, repeatedly doing it will get rid of most of them. Then you have 2 options you can get natural predators sent to you through the post put them on the tree and leave nature to do its job or you can spray them to kill them. Either way if you visit a good garden centre you should get the help you need. If you want predators rather than chemicals you can buy online.

If you leave them they will damage your tree. Good luck!

www.shawnolson.net/a/887/aphids.html