Scaled plant sucking insect...I.D please

[ginger ninger]

I have a red current bush in my garden a to my horror found lot's of these bug's on it.
When I picked them off with long nosed tweezers they left behind something that resembled cotton wool, when I whipped this off the bush it looked as if it was full of blood.
Question's are...what are they...where did they come from...how do I get rid of them?

Thank's in advance for any advice given.

[rana]

They look like scale insects. There are dozens of different species which feed on various plants. Apparently there are few insecticides that will touch them. The fluffy white stuff contains the eggs.
I had an infestation on a small ornamental olive tree and ended up picking them off by hand (long job).

Great photo by the way.

[Guttata]

Meths and cotton wool also gets them off. My friend had them on his holly bush and that's how he got them off. Though it is a small bush so easy to do, also smooth leaved.

Where insecticides are concerned I think it is that scale that protects them from the sprays, but systemic should get them.

[rustylady]

Meths and cotton wool also gets them off. My friend had them on his holly bush and that's how he got them off. Though it is a small bush so easy to do, also smooth leaved.

Where insecticides are concerned I think it is that scale that protects them from the sprays, but systemic should get them.

I wouldn't like to use systemic insecticides on fruit bushes though.

[Guttata]

Neither would I rusty, but as a general they could be used where they are seen on none food crops. I thought that would go without saying.

[rustylady]

Neither would I rusty, but as a general they could be used where they are seen on none food crops. I thought that would go without saying.

Sorry Guttata, I only mentioned it because there are a lot of complete beginners on the Vine, and the original post was about scale insects on Redcurrant bushes.

[ginger ninger]

Thank's for the ID, my garden's organic so the systemic insecticides out of the question, but I'll try the meth's and cotton wool. I've been hand...well tweezer picking them off so far and I seem to be winning the battle...nasty squishy thing's, Yuk.