Based on the top picture, they are aphids and the white things are shed skins. Try looking deep down at the bases of the inside leaves. Yes they will spread, yes a soap spray would work on any it touched but not likely all of those deep in the foliage. They may get onto the flowers but are usually down in the foliage. They did not cause the hole in the bud.
Edit: forgot the sticky question, that's "honeydew" secreted by the aphids.
