This year I noticed that where all the flower buds cluster together, there is fine webbing. it's not on the stalks or leaves, just where the cluster of buds are. In the webbing is small black long things. Either feces or eggs. They are not round, but elongated. I've searched the leaves for damage or bugs and couldn't find any.

i looked on Google for how to identify spider mites or thrips but wasn't successful in finding something that matched the description of what's on my rose buds so I'm hoping someone here can help me.

I'd hate to use rose dust when i should be using miticide or vice versa...

It's a bit unusual, but not unheard of, to have spider mites develop at the buds instead of on the leaves near the ground. Still, you haven't mentioned any damage, per se. If they are spider mites, you will notice ill effects that continue to increase on the roses - leaves stippling, turning brown, and dying, etc., etc.

If there's webbing, but you don't notice any ill effects to the rose, leave it alone. Regular spiders (not mites) are good things where roses are concerned. They don't touch the rose, but they trap and eat all the things that do.

Also, I'm concerned it's NOT spiders because of the excrement I see in the webbing. That's not something I've ever seen on spider webs before...

You won't often observe webbing from spider mites on outdoor roses, anyway, except for little tufts on the underside of leaves.

I don't think this webbing will do serious damage to the rose plant itself.

I wouldn't recommend using any miticides or insecticides, better to let Nature and predators take care of it.

Some roses seem particularly susceptible to this type of Sawfly and others are rarely touched. William Baffin is one rose here that they absolutely adore and routinely attack in large numbers. No need to spray or dust as it will have limited effectiveness. Just pick them out of the cocoon and step on them, or use your finger and thumb and gently squish them around the bud and leaves.