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dayvedayve
Posts: 25
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« on: August 06, 2011, 08:19:02 AM » |
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I was looking ay my plants early this morning and noticed these guys on a leaf. I finally got the spider mites under control but don't know what these bugs are and if they are useful or harmful. Anyone know?
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Louis
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« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2011, 06:32:29 AM » |
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they look to be small red ants. maybe fire ants. they bite like heck
louis
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Charlie
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« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2011, 05:25:37 AM » |
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Anytime you see ants on hibiscus watch out for aphids, mealybugs or any other sap sucking insect. Ants have this surprising ability to "farm" sap sucking insects. They carry eggs up onto plant leaves where they hatch out and start sucking the sweet sap. The excess sugar is excreted onto the leaves and the ants take this back to feed the colony. They will even protect the sap suckers from predator insects while this is happening. Sap sucking insects including white flies are easily killed by applying systemic Safari to the root zone of the plant. It is drawn up into the plant sap and when the sap suckers feed on the sap they ingest the Safari which kills them. Easier than spraying! Details and purchase at http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/safari.htmCharlie |
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roadrunner
Posts: 368
Cochise Co., AZ
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« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2011, 06:04:48 PM » |
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Charlie, speaking of ants, I have a problem with several species of very small black ants that are actually nesting in the pots. I've had no luck with powders and baits. I'd think a soil drench of some kind would be in order. Do you have any recommendation of something that will kill the queen ant without killing the hibiscus?
thanks,
dave
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Louis
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« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2011, 08:02:12 PM » |
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hi dave,
i had a problem with ants and gnats nesting in the potting soil.
i used a covering of about one half inch of worm castings. it did the trick. no bugs
louis
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dayvedayve
Posts: 25
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« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2011, 01:39:38 PM » |
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They are not ants. They are still on my plants but started spreading out. They have gotten larger and have mostly black wings. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the leaves that they travel on. Those long brown things are where they hatched from. I will try to get a pic of the larger ones. My neighbor called them "squash bugs". Hr said that he gets them on his vegetable plants but he uses second dust for other pest and that it gets rid of them too. He thinks they actually eat aphids but hr wasn't sure.
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dayvedayve
Posts: 25
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« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2011, 05:11:40 PM » |
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Here are some more pics of the larger ones. I couldnt find a big one with the wings
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Doll
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« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2011, 05:19:19 PM » |
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I believe these are the same insect as yours. I've seen them many times and whatever they are, they never cause any harm to the plant.
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"An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life."
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roadrunner
Posts: 368
Cochise Co., AZ
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« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2011, 11:02:41 PM » |
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Louis thanks for the tip on the earthworm castings. I'll give it try.
I like to try the least toxic approach first.
dave
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