Black eggs and ants

Hi,

When watering my plants this morning, I noticed a cluster of black eggs (or what look like eggs) on two of my Dahlia plants stems towards the top.
They had ants scurrying around them!

I think it's Aphids, but am not sure. The only thing I had handy was rose clear, so I sprayed them with that!!

Does anyone have any ideas or advice?

Cheers

 

Blackfly I would think. They quickly form colonies near the growing tips, and at the base of flower buds. i usually squash them where they are, but gently, so I don't damage the plant. That avoids spraying, but takes a bit more time.

They seem to be less of problem later in the season, possibly because ladybirds and other predators eat them. The ants I think might be protecting them and gathering the honeydew they exude.

 

Sounds like blackfly Bashy, and as Beechleaf says, the ants are farming them.:thumb:

 

Yeah, just noticed them on my sunflowers too. Even loadsa ants crawling up and down plants that haven't got any 'eggs' on them.
Isn't there an organic spray I can use?
Fairy liquid/vegetable oil?
WOO advised me to use this on my roses to control the aphids, will this kill the black fly and ants?
I don't really want the ants there anyway, is there something that would kill them too?