Yup, it's an Assassin Bug, friend or foe may depend on your point of view. If you're growing veggies the answer is friend....

Not growing veggies, but as long as he doesn't try to assassinate me, I'll regard him as my friend.

Thanks

Well, cat lovers don't like to see these things, especially if your plants are designed to draw cats....

Deb, if your hibiscus is dropping buds, your problem is probably gall midge. A small fly the lays eggs in the bud, which turns yellow and falls to the ground the egg now a larve goes into the soil and comes out again as a fly. You need to use Bayer systemic on your hibiscus to get rid of the eggs. I have also hand picked the yellow buds and disposed of them, but it hardly helps. Do a search on gall midge to get more info. :o)

Yikes! That explains why I see lots of butterflies, and few caterpillars. I didn't realize these guys were munching on them.

We don't use pesticides, but I went and removed every single bud from all my hibiscus--even the ones that looked healthy. I even trimmed the tips where buds might be forming soon. According to what I read, those insect only live four days, so I'm hoping that could be the end of them.