No pics sorry – much too small
Any ideas what they are?

you might have an infestation of black beetle?

Yes black beetles but what are they?
If you mean the ones that get in the ground then no these a very small.

are they thrips or aphids?

Not aphids, they feed on the outside – these are in the blooms
I don’t think Thrips look like shiny little black beetles do they?

possum70 said:

Not aphids, they feed on the outside – these are in the blooms
I don’t think Thrips look like shiny little black beetles do they?

They are black Hibiscus beetles, Possum. I had them in my roses last year.

‘They are black Hibiscus beetles, Possum. I had them in my roses last year.’

Thank you checked Google & that is them, do they do damage? My rose buds are having difficulty in opening, the outside petals look constricted & will not open unless I pull off the outer petals. ( have only a couple of plants in my very small garden so every bud is precious!)
Thanks again

theres a small Black Beetle in bee hives it can kill the bees called Small Hive Beetle, But I know it shouldn’t be it apprently chooks eat them and the SHB eggs