I've got something on my rudbeckias that looks like maybe a larva or pupa. What is it and what can I do to get rid of it?

I think this what killed the majority of the plants in one of my large planters last year. These are just plants that sprouted all around where my plants were last year, it hasn't got into the planters so far.

Kyle those are aphids.

@Hazelcrestmikeb
Thanks for the help.

I guess that makes sense, I've killed hundreds of these

over the last few weeks, 40 or so of my desert roses were loaded with them.

These are oleander aphids, are the ones on the rudbeckias a later stage of them or are they a different type of aphid?

Also, can I just spray those with insecticidal soap like I did with the ones on the desert roses?

Could be woolly aphids, a little different from what you've encountered. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARD...

Looks like you're right, I'll spray them down with insecticidal soap tomorrow.

Some just use a garden hose and wash them off. The soap should work. Don't forget the underside of the leaves.

I tried to hose them off this evening, they barely budge on any nozzle setting that doesn't destroy the leaves. I'll just hit them with soap in the morning, it'll be less work for me, and easier on the plants 😉