Question

Pests on Hibiscus   QUESTION: I live in Bellefontaine, OH USA.  I have a pest attacking my hibiscus and can't figure out what it is.  I've looked all over the internet at pictures, and even had a pest inspecter come over and we are stumped.  This bug is red in the pupae stage and black in the adult stage.  It is on the bark and in the soil of my hibiscus.  It hasn't transferred anywhere else, although I have many plants in this area of my home.  It seems that the pupae are sucking on bark.  I've attached a picture of them.  The pest inspector who came over looked at them under a magnifying glass and it looks as though the red pupae have legs and a white mouth .  The adults are long and thin and have 4 or 6 legs (I can't remember), and antennae.  Unfortunately I couldn't get a picture of them under the magnifying glass.  My hibiscus has lost almost all of its leaves now.  I have tried spraying it with soap-water twice, and wiping the bugs off with a moist cloth.  The pest inspector believes that the eggs may be in the roots.  Is there any hope for my tree?

ANSWER: Rebekah,

How's the plant doing otherwise? Is it healthy, are the leaves green or yellowing? When you wipe these off what happens? Do they re-appear quickly? Do both forms (red and black) move or "wriggle" in any way? I'm asking because this does not really look like a plant pest to me. Can you get a close up or higher resolution picture? Post a follow up and I'll help you figure this out.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The plant is dying.  The mature leaves have all fallen off, but there is still some new growth.  When I wipe the bugs off, They reappear quickly.  Both forms move and wriggle.  I looked at them under a magnifying glass and you can tell, but with the naked eye, they move so slowly, I didn't think they were moving.  I wish I could get a better picture, but the one I sent is the best I can get.  I have been watering the plant with soapy water to kill the pests.  It seems like there may be less, but I think they are down in the roots.  

Answer
I can't tell from the picture what these are which is why I asked the questions. If they are moving around they are not scale insects which are common pests on this plant. If the plant is dying the problem is probably in the roots.

Root problems are often disease related, sometimes a watering problem (too much or too little) or, less often, an insect problem. At this point your only option may be to re-pot the plant in good potting soil and inspect the roots for disease and insects when out of the pot. If the roots seem mushy and soft the problem is likely a root disease, if you find insects in the root zone then they are the problem. By re-potting you may be able to save the plant depending on what's wrong.

Sorry I can't be more specific.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com
http://livingwithbugs.blogspot.com