Aphids. Aphids come in many colors, shapes and sizes depending on where you are located. Hosing works but you need to be fearless about using that HARD stream. I just take two fingers and wipe them off carefully. If your squeamish use a Kleenex. The ants are not the ones eating the sepals the aphids are. The ants actually herd the aphids so they can collect their excretions which is called honey due. Getting rid of the aphids will get rid of the ants too.
