Small black bugs on hibiscus - Ask Extension
All the hibiscus I’ve planted in pots outside, in various parts of my garden, have gotten small black and/or white bugs on the buds. I spray with N...
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Small black bugs on hibiscus #836370
Asked June 19, 2023, 10:56 AM EDT
All the hibiscus I’ve planted in pots outside, in various parts of my garden, have gotten small black and/or white bugs on the buds. I spray with Neem, but they consistently come back. Is there anything else I can do?
Kenton County Kentucky
Expert Response
Hi!
It appears you have aphids, blasting insects you can with water followed by neem oil can often work well but only works if you can cover all of the plants with neem oil which is often difficult with lots of crevices near shoot tips. If you want a stronger more lasting solution, you can use a systemic insectide that poisons anything that feeds on your plant, good and bad insects so there is the caution. A product containing the active ingredients such as Bentonite and or imidacloprid will work. Something like Bonide systemic houseplant insect control or another product with those ingredients.
