By Nanwilson
Midlothian,
United Kingdom 
Hope that somebody can help - My poeny rose buds are covered in black ant type bugs - I have sprayed every day with Provado ultimate bug killer but it seems to wash them off and they are back the next day -
3 Jun, 2013
Answers
they are ants as Owdboggy says. they love the sticky secretion by the plant.
3 Jun, 2013
Thank you - so reading from this the ants will not spoil the flowers - I have now bought an ant spray 'Antstop' which I will spray below the buds - feel a bit happier now :)
4 Jun, 2013
That is because Provado does not kill ants which is what they are. Ants adore the sweet gum on the outside of Paeonia buds. When the flowers open the usually disappear. Otherwise dust round the stem bases with an Ant killer.
By the way Provado is not good news for Bees.
3 Jun, 2013