Dear Community,

I have recently noticed a massive infestation on my Chinese Elm Bonsai. I´m new to Bonsai, and am unfamiliar with the type of insect I´m dealing with.
After my research, the best guess I have is whitefly or Mealy Bugs - but thats really only because the insects are white. I have attached pictures and from what I can tell they dont have the same physical charachteristics as Mealy Bug or whiteflies...then again idk.
The problem is really twofold:
1) What are the white bugs?
2) There are also black (bugs?) on the underside of the leaves - what are they?

-> How to I rid the tree of these bugs?

fyi: I water & feed the tree once a week, when the soil is about to dry up. Located in the bathroom with good humidity and near a window for plenty of sunlight.
Window is open (tilted) most of the time.
I have noticed the black (bugs?) on the underside of the leaves before any white bugs appeared. There also seems to be a sticky residue present.

I look forward to your help and learning more!

With much appreciation,
The Bonsai Noob.

They look like aphids to me, which would make sense considering the sticky residue you mentioned. That is a by product of these little guys sucking on the leaves/stems (Honeydew). Not 100% of what the black bugs are but I would give the tree a good spray wash with water to get them off (not around other plants) and then look at some mild insecticide soaps you can spray on the leaves to keep them from coming back. Do you have any issues on any other plants around the house?

Thank you so very much! That was not only helpful, but also informative.
I´ll try out what you siggested.

Yes, I have a Ficus Bonai, which usually sits right next to the Chinese Elm. However, it seems completely unaffected. I moved it to a different room since seeing the Chinese elm being infected.

Thanks again

Your elm really needs to be outside, sooner or later it will die inside

As far as I am aware it can be both inside and outside. So far it has been doing well inside.
Why do you think it needs to be outside?

It is a hardy species and it is extremely difficult close to impossible to get it through the winter alive. There is not such thing as indoor plants, some will survive in the environment but many will not. The reason sellers say that they can be kept inside is they want to sell so they will say whatever it takes to sell

I am aware of the debate between the "indoor vs outdoor Bonsai" conceptualizations. I myself belive too that the debate is needless and that every Bonsai is an outdoor Bonsai by nature.

Unfortunatley I live in an apartment, and will keep a close eye on its development. So far so good. My Ficus Bonsai has been indoors for years now, and is doing great.

Thanks.

I tried your suggestion - to wash them off - it worked marvelously! thank you so very very much.

Glad it worked!