Katy Hibiscus Attacked By Mealybugs

We have a number of customers who cherish their hibiscus and have us fertilize and maintain an insecticide residual to protect them from aphids and the like. Recently we were called to a residence located behind Katy Mills Mall to asscess a problem which has taken over their entire stand , about 500 square feet, of hibiscus. It was not pretty. The leaves were gnarled and covered with black sooty mold which had developed on the sweet honeydew released by some insects.

In this case, the insect proved to be our first true infestation of Pink Hibiscus Mealybugs in Katy. The insect was discovered in Florida in 2002 and was identified in our area last year. Protected by white scaly deposits encircling the stems of the plant lives this pale little insect; pink not even a Mary Kay lady could love and lacking the common courtesy to confine itself to hibiscus plants.

Best to attack this insect through the use of systemic insecticides. If you have hibiscus and other plants you care about, perhapes you should have JNJ Pest Control and Grounds Care begin a preventive program for them.