Various creatures living on my bonsai, should I be concerned?

[naks]

Hi all! I'm new here!

I received a 13 y/o Juniper bonsai (Juniperus Squamata Prostrata) for my birthday. It has various things living on it - anything I need to be concerned about?





Any advice much appreciated, thanks!

[TimS]

2nd one looks like ladybird larvae to me

[shibui]

First picture shows an ant?
Sometimes they set up a nest in the soil which can be a pain in the ..... but normally they are just out hunting for food. Lots of ants running up the trunk often indicates a scale or aphid infestation. The ants farm other bugs for the sweet honeydew. It's not the ants you need to worry about but scale or aphid are not good for trees.
2nd pic is definitely baby ladybird. These are GOOD. They hunt and eat aphids.

I would just take a close look at the tips of new shoots for aphids given you have both those hunters on the tree.

[naks]

Thanks! Much appreciated