CULT: fuzzy grey bugs

Hi Everybody,

This will no doubt demonstrate my lack of experience growing plants under 
lights, but I could use some help with an insect pest.  One of our 
wonderful list members sent me some leftover rhizomes just a few weeks 
past, and of course my only option was to pot them and attempt to 
overwinter them under lights in my basement.  They're doing beautifully 
so far ... except ... just now when I checked on them, I noticed a couple 
are suddenly covered with what look like tiny pieces of fuzzy, blue-grey 
lint.  I brushed the "lint" off one of the leaves just to realize they 
are actually tiny, fuzzy bugs!  What the heck are these things, and how 
do I get rid of them?  Interestingly, just yesterday I noticed several 
ladybugs (Asian beetles?) hanging out on the iris leaves and figured I 
could rely on them to eliminate any aphids that may hatch on the irises 
over winter.  Today the ladybugs are nowhere to be seen, but the fuzzy 
greys are coating several of the leaves.  Could these be ladybug larvae?  
If they are something I should be trying to get rid of, would soapy water 
be likely to do the trick?  I have far too many companion animals in the 
house to risk using any sort of toxic chemical pesticides.

Any insights or suggestions will be gratefully received.

Happy New Year, Everybody!

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/shadowood/irisintro.html
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
acidic clay soil

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