There is a black bug with tiny red spots eating the devil out of my Rose of Sharon seed pods, still on the bush! Any idea what these things are and what to do about them?
Try making a spray from dishwashing liquid and water, and spray on there. If that doesn't help, try vegetable oil (canola oil, etc.) and cayenne pepper.
Hi Rachel,
There aren't many bugs that like the rose of sharon other than the Japanese beetle and the scentless plant bug. Take a look here and click on 'Niesthrea louisianica' in the first paragraph for a picture.
ipm.ncsu.edu/
If this is your pest, you really needn't do anything as they aren't considered that much of a pest and they will be food for some other predator. You could always pick them off and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
With no disrespect to the guest poster that recommended Immunox, I wouldn't use anything like that. You can click on the chemicals in it at the bottom of this page for what is in it. You can also use this site to search the other products listed at the other site I referred you to.
householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
Take a look here for environmentally and human friendly products you can use.
www.dirtdoctor.com/
Newt
Hi, Sounds like you have aphids on your Rose of Sharon, a good product to use is Immunox. Read the label and follow as directed. I have lots of Rose of Sharons and the have a tendency to get aphids alot.
I tried the dawn dishwashing liquid and water and it didn't do anything. I ended up cutting all the branches off. What is the ratio for vegetable oil and cayenne pepper please?
I flick the pests(mostly June bugs) into a bucket of soapy water. Used bug traps in the past and they just bring the bugs to your yard. Easy to do while they are having bug orgies.
