Disease? ID (flower, bug, grass, violet)

[Spree]

What is this white stuff on the stalk of this black eyed susan perennial? It looks to be like cotton and a little thready. (sorry the picture is not sharper) Does it have anything to do with the insect that is near the bloom? Is it something I should be concerned about?

thank you

[J&Em]

White stuff looks like Meallybugs.

What they are is covered here: Mealybug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Controls are covered in some of these links:
Mealybug Control

Mealybug Control in the Organic Garden: Use Natural Pesticides to Kill Flower and Vegetable Garden Pests (http://organicgardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/mealybug_control_in_the_organic_garden - broken link)

Beginner Houseplants: Mealy bug on Citrus


The other critter looks like a small grasshopper.

[Luvvarkansas]

That stuff always gets on my black-eyed susans. Never seems to hurt anything, so I've never bothered to do anything about it.

[Rtom45]

I agree with the mealy bug response. You should be able to control the problem by spraying with soapy water ( use a mild dishwashing soap without a lot of additives).