My succulents are infested! How could this have happened? (Pics!)

[MustBeJewel]

There I was, preparing a ton of ponies for sale from 2 pony friends who are downsizing their collections.

Then, out of nowhere, this swarm flew in and settled on my beloved purple succulents!

Can anyone identify these weirdly-colored bugs? Do they bite? Are they dangerous? How fast do they multiply? Should I call an exterminator?



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Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

oh man, i think sugar may actually get this swarm to buzz off lol - or do they even like sugar? cake maybe? lol

 

[BethMcBeth]

Stop! These are endangered! And are native to the Florida tropics. You should reach out to your local Floridian AKA me and I can gladly transport and relocate them safely back to their native Florida habitat.

 

[Leave a Whisper]

Not to worry Jewel, this uncommon species are excellent pollinators and will keep your garden flourishing while adding attractive splashes of color. They only bite and kick if provoked.

 

[Cozytoyhoard]

Had me in the first half ngl

 

[cowbrain]

They probably came in seeking warm temperatures to overwinter!

 

[starbeam]

Oh no! I think setting out some sugarcubes should keep them off your succulents for a bit. If the problem persists, I think we’ve got some exterminators on speed dial here on the TP

 

[Hindsight]

Smarty pants, I enlarged the photo trying to see any little bugs. Got me! lol

 

[StormMaeker]

Embrace them. This is not an infestation but a blessing. Many may make the mistake of these creatures being pests due to their size, wings and number but rare these are in fact an endangered species that actually help the succulents grow. If this happened to my succulents I would encourage them to keep returning. Try to take care of them

 

[CJ Thimble Bright]

Hey! I know who those belong to!!

 

[MustBeJewel]

oh man, i think sugar may actually get this swarm to buzz off lol - or do they even like sugar? cake maybe? lol

On the contrary--they are DEMANDING cupcakes and cake! I tried to explain that DoorDash only goes so fast and now they're getting hostile.

Not to worry Jewel, this uncommon species are excellent pollinators and will keep your garden flourishing while adding attractive splashes of color. They only bite and kick if provoked.

....So you're saying they bite AND kick? Oh man!

They probably came in seeking warm temperatures to overwinter!

If that's the case, I hope they brought rent money!

Oh no! I think setting out some sugarcubes should keep them off your succulents for a bit. If the problem persists, I think we’ve got some exterminators on speed dial here on the TP

Of all the things I have on speed-dial for the TP, oddly enough, exterminator is NOT one of them.

Smarty pants, I enlarged the photo trying to see any little bugs. Got me! lol

Hey! I know who those belong to!!

Who would have ever predicted the day that our very own @summerglow would send her minions after me! What a world we live in!

 

[summerglow]

The infestation was trapped in a box too long! I had to release them somewhere!