Hi Amy,

Thanks for getting back to me.  I zoomed in on the bugs in that picture, so hopefully you can see them better and identify them. These are tiny round black bugs, which don't look like the aphids I've seen around my garden unless they are a different type.  When you move the leaf they are on, they seem to jump off onto the ground.  The aphids I've dealt with don't seem to fall off the leaf that easily.  You are right about something else eating the leaves.  I read somewhere recently that the triangular marks on the leaves indicate bird beaks.  So I think birds are eating a large majority of the leaves, but these bugs are definitely eating parts of it, especially the younger shoots. I've attached a picture of another plant that has damage that I think is from this bug.  The chewed edges look straighter.  Hopefully this information helps. Thank you!

Hi Amy,

I tried getting pictures of them on a white piece of paper and they are not any better than the one I already sent. My camera is just not able to get a closer shot while keeping the bug in focus.  You are probably right about them being aphids.  I just didn't expect them to be so small.  Can aphid babies be tiny like this?  What kind of leaf damage would indicate aphids?  I do notice some small round holes in the leaves.  But it sounds like the aphids are not causing as much damage as I first thought.  It may be the root weevil and birds causing most of the damage.

Thank you so much for the references!  I didn't realize the type of aphids depends on the host plant.  The handbook will be a great resource for future issues I come across.