Identification of an Insect from Georgetown - Ask Extension
My wife and I experienced two separate encounters with large quantities of the insect shown in the attached photo. Both times we were having lunch on...
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Identification of an Insect from Georgetown #813225
Asked October 04, 2022, 10:20 PM EDT
My wife and I experienced two separate encounters with large quantities of the insect shown in the attached photo. Both times we were having lunch on a picnic table in Georgetown. The bug in question is 2-4 mm long and occurs in groups of 20 to 50 individuals. My wife's pants were covered with about 40 by the time we were done with our lunch. No biting or obnoxious behavior other than being a nuisance. What are they and are they harmful?
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
This is an aphid of some sort. My best guess is that it is a conifer aphid. They probably were dispersing off of nearby conifers. They should be a problem apart from being a nuisance.