I'm not sure what these are or what you could do to get them off. I think maybe they are earwigs. I did a quick search and earwigs feed on dahlias.

Here is a site with natural ways to get rid of earwigs
http://gardening.yardener.com/ControlEarwigsWithNoInsecticides.html

Thanks for the link!

Yah, I think the distinctive pinchers on the backside is indicative of earwigs.

The link had some good info. I've put out a covered plastic container with soy sauce and oil in it to see if they like that.

I also like the idea of companion planting and the article suggested Cosmos as a plant which will attract flies that eat the nasty buggers.

And by chance I had some Cosmos I'd started from seed earlier that was just waiting for a new home. http://greenthumbr.com/gardens/playground/garden/177/plantings/112

Now there are 6 freshly planted cosmos in my garden near where the dhalias usually end up.

I'm glad that link was helpful. I like to read about other gardeners problems and be able to search solutions. Searching is my forte.

I don't know how infested your plant is. But handpicking is another temporary quick solution.

Although I'm a firm believer of companion planting! I just learned that Zinnias are good for deterring insects too, and I was just growing them for the flowers.

june - every afternoon I take a quick look at the dahlias and do a little hand picking. That seems to have been the most effective solution so far!

@Lance, how'd the Cosmos work out in deterring the earwigs? Or did the dog demolish it all?

Did the soy sauce work at all?

When we potted up some seedlings today, we found that the lower tray of the flat was full of earwigs. Mmmm...

They soy sauce/vegetable oil remedy didn't really work so well. Although I did see it in the current issue of Organic Gardening magazine. They cut the holes in the container on the side rather than on the top though. Not sure if that makes a difference.

As for the cosmos - I dunno. The earwigs have gone away. I haven't witnessed any cosmos coming along and plucking the little bugs out. But the bugs really aren't a problem anymore. And the dogs only got the ones I hadn't planted yet.

But! I have a new theory this morning. The dogs were in their pen all night last night and today my one remaining unplanted and living cosmos had been uprooted from it's pot! I think it's the squirrels. They might be going for the coconut husk pots the cosmos were planted in.

Did you apologize to the dogs for all the blame you'd been heaping upon them?