skip to main content

Need help identifying and eradicating

8 years ago

This pest has attacked every hibiscus plant in my neighborhood. I had some beautiful bushes that have now been reduced to a few sticks that are barely hanging on. I don't usually use harsh chemicals, but I will if it will save my hibiscus bushes.

Can anyone ID this and tell me how to get rid of it? I think it has now jumped to a kumquat tree near the most heavily infested hibiscus. I imagine that if the neighbors don't do anything, they will just keep coming back. :-(

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Alcohol kills mealy bugs. I used to just spray it on them until they all died. Doesn't hurt the plant at all.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

merkity
8 years ago
looks like scale or a fungus...
mobjack11 thanked merkity
Ingrida
8 years ago
May be Mealy bugs?
mobjack11 thanked Ingrida
Related Discussions
Need help identifying this weed/grass growing in Bermuda
Q
Comments (15)
Okay guys. I know the Bermuda looks terrible but I've just started the regimen. Thank you so much for all the help. I just recently received my soil test and started to really get into and face the cold hard facts that my grass is in bad shape so, I'm on the wagon now, the lawn wagon. I understand that dallisgrass is hard to kill. I just started doing the 36-0-0 fertilizer with Milorganite. I'm thinking of getting the alfalfa pellets next week for it. Dchall I guess I'm putting the cart before the horse thinking overrun. I'm just glad I've found this site for the help you're all giving me. I've been getting a better understanding of how this Bermuda works from reading these threads. I don't have a reel mower but bought a new blade. I hope to one day be able to show you before and after pics of my yard. Let me know if you recommend anything else outside of what I just named to apply to my lawn. I'm open for suggestions. This soil test says to do these applications monthly. I wonder if I could do it every 2 weeks until it looks better. What say you? 36-0-0 every 2-3 weeks?
...See More
Need help identifying weed (1)
Q
Comments (7)
The truth of the matter is, it doesn't matter what kind of weed you have the important question is......what kind of lawn you have. That's what determines what you can spray. Bayer has a product for St Augustine lawns that you can buy at John Deere stores called, Celsius but it is expensive as it is packaged for commercial use but homeowners can buy it. It is not heat sensitive. Other wise you can wait till daytime temperatures get down to 85 and spray your lawn with atrizine. Spot spraying is also an option during the hot months.
...See More
Ground elder / Goutweed eradication help
Q
Comments (23)
If you like nasturtiums - I've found GE to be fairly easy to get rid of since adopting the following method. A 3 year (so far) programme of digging out the roots in heavily infested areas and planting lots of nasturtiums seems to have worked a treat. In a few places (fences, hedges around the roots of established plants that you don't want to lose)) it wasn't really possible to dig out the roots effectively, so I cleared what I could and sowed nasturtium seeds. The following year the GE doesn't seem to come back wherever the nasturtiums have done well. The only place I really still have it now is under a hedge/fence that is almost always in deep shade. The GE itself struggles there and the nasturtiums don't do well at all. But I keep putting seeds in and even that seems to be having an effect. To me it seems much better, cheaper and easier to plant an attractive annual that deters the GE, than messing about with weedkiller. I did the latter for a couple of years and got little return except frustration!
...See More
Need help help help to identify tile and wall color
Q
Comments (0)
Hi All, I love this tile. what tile is it? and what wall color is it if you can just name some shades to help me narrow down? I don't know the names as I got the pictures at a friends who only recently bought this house. We are getting Cherry glaze cabinets with Black pearl countertop. Would this tile look good? Thanks
...See More
mobjack11
Original Author
8 years ago
I've had a couple of people look at it and say they think it is mealy bugs. Since posting, I've read a bunch of possible treatments, one of which seems to be working. I've always heard that a dish soap solution of soap and water is effective. I had tried this using Dawn, because it's what I use on dishes. For some reason that had no effect on the bugs so I gave up on that plan. But after reading other posts, it seems that Palmolive is the way to go, so I gave it another shot, and while not completely gone, it is the first product that has made a noticeable difference and I hope that a couple more treatments might just do the trick. Now the problem is all the neighbor's hibiscuses that are also covered with these little guys.
steiconi
8 years ago
When using the dish soap spray, make sure you don't use any with "ULTRA" in the name. That can kill your plant by stripping the waxy coating off the leaves.
mobjack11 thanked steiconi
mobjack11
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the tips. In my reading, I've seen many different solution ratios of dish soap to water--anything from 50/50 to a few drops per liter. I just filled the bottom ½ inch of a spray bottle then filled with water.

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: How to Identify Two Common Woodpeckers

By Habitat Network

Downy and hairy woodpeckers have similar coloration and behavior. But there are two big differences that separate them

DECORATING GUIDES Could a Mission Statement Help Your House?

By Laura Gaskill

Identify your home’s purpose and style to make everything from choosing paint colors to buying a new home easier

ORGANIZING Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Consider these 6 points your personal pare-down assistant, making organizing your photo collection easier

LIFE Decluttering — How to Get the Help You Need

By Alison Hodgson

Don't worry if you can't shed stuff and organize alone; help is at your disposal

ORGANIZING 4 Questions to Help You Organize Your Favorite Photos

By Jennifer Phelps: Organize. Design. Reinvent!

Organize your keeper photos with a system that's just right for you, whether it's in the cloud or you can hold it in your hand

ORGANIZING Get the Organizing Help You Need (Finally!)

By Laura Gaskill

Imagine having your closet whipped into shape by someone else. That’s the power of working with a pro

SELLING YOUR HOUSE Help for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your home properly before you put it on the market. Learn what tasks are worth the money and the best pros for the jobs

MOVING Relocating Help: 8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move

By Laura Gaskill

Trash bags, houseplants and a good cry all have their role when it comes to this major life change

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 5 Savvy Fixes to Help Your Home Sell

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Get the maximum return on your spruce-up dollars by putting your money in the areas buyers care most about

DECLUTTERING Downsizing Help: How to Edit Your Belongings

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Learn what to take and what to toss if you're moving to a smaller home

Sponsored

Structural Remodeling

Franklin County's Heavy Timber Specialists | Best of Houzz 2020!