Hibiscus plants require little care but sometimes have problems with mealy bugs.
Hibiscus plants grow well in warm areas of the U.S., including Houston, Texas. Unfortunately, pink hibiscus mealy bugs sometimes infect plants in eastern parts of Texas, where Houston sits. Does this Spark an idea?
Effects
Texas A&M University explains that pink hibiscus mealy bugs suck the sap out of many plants in Texas, including hibiscus plants. When they suck the sap out of plants, they also release toxins into the plants that damages or even kills them.
Identification
Gardeners can identify a mealy bug infestation by pink egg clusters, shriveling leaf clusters and plant death. According to Texas A&M University, pink hibiscus mealy bugs have little wax on their bodies, no stripes and no tails.
Prevention/Solution
Gardeners should prevent infestations by buying healthy-looking hibiscus plants. Texas A&M University suggests cutting off severely infested parts of a plant and using horticultural oils, but warns that most other pesticides do not work against mealy bugs because of their thin waxy coating. Some natural mealy bug predators exist, but gardeners cannot currently buy them in gardening stores in Houston.
Tags: hibiscus mealy, hibiscus mealy bugs, mealy bugs, pink hibiscus, pink hibiscus mealy, Texas University