Insect?

[Muddypause]

A bit late in the year for an infestation of insects, I'm thinking. Nonetheless, my runner beans and parsnips (next to each other) are suddenly leaping with tiny little greeny-white insects that get very excited when disturbed.

Best I could do with a photo - 2-3mm long, seem mostly to hide under the leaves, and won't let me get near them:



I guess at this time of year they are not going to be able to do much damage, but what are they, are they harmful, and what can I do about them?

[Wombat]

Dunno, mate.

I can sympathise though, I get pretty exited when disturbed too!

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

The photo isn't showing.

Clouds of tiny things fly off when I water my carrots - I presume they are carrot root flies which I think can infest parsnips as well.

[wulf]

Have you got many spiders in your garden (mine is becoming a tangle of webs!)? You could try dropping some spiders down in that part and see if the little white things become tasty snacks for them!

Wulf

[hedgewizard]

Looks like whitefly.



Off the top of my head, a vaccuum cleaner waved at them daily for a week will reduce their numbers quite a bit, or yellow sticky traps do for them also (day-glo yellow card smeared with petroleum jelly or similar)

[Millymollymandy]

I can see the photo now! Yes, I think whitefly too.

[Andy Hamilton]

If you want another agreement yep I would say whitefly! They tend to have tha same behaviour as you describe.