Identification

• Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects that produce a covering of white and waxy material, giving them a "mealy" appearance. These tiny insects feed on plants by piercing the surface of the leaves and stems with their mouth parts, then sucking the fluids from within the plant. Mealybugs often appear on the leaves and stems of hibiscus as fuzzy patches and may often be mistaken for fungus.
  
  

Threat

• While several different species of mealybug can affect hibiscus plants, one species in particular, the pink hibiscus mealybug, is a significant pest not only for hibiscus, but also for many crops and ornamental plants. An introduced species, the pink hibiscus mealybug has become endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In the United States, particularly in Florida, California and Texas, the pink hibiscus mealybug is spreading quickly, placing a variety of important crops such as citrus, avocado, fruit trees, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, sugarcane and ornamentals -- including hibiscus -- at risk.
  
  

Control

• Controlling mealybugs on your hibiscus can be difficult, as there are no chemical pesticides available for treating mealybug infestations. Biological controls are more promising. One, in particular, is a common visitor to the garden. Ladybugs, both the adults and larvae, are mealybug predators and feed voraciously on the insects. Available in numbers for purchase from catalog or online sources, you can release ladybugs onto your hibiscus plants to reduce the mealybug infestation.
  
  

Reporting

• If you believe your hibiscus or other plants in your yard or garden have pink hibiscus mealybugs, you can find information about where to report the infestation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. Their "Report a Pest or Disease" page provides contact information for your local state contacts. You can also contact your local county extension office or state department of agriculture. These agencies rely on concerned citizens to help track the spread of introduced insect infestations.