The Pesticide to Kill Cotton Bug on a Hibiscus

Description

• Adult cotton seed bugs are black. Females have truncated abdomens and are about 1/8 inch long. Males are slightly shorter in length and have rounded abdomens. The wings are translucent. The eggs are oval, like tiny chicken eggs, and start out yellow before turning turn pink. Nymphs are reddish brown to red and have darker, more brownish heads.

Damage

• Cotton seed bugs have piercing, sucking mouthparts. They pierce the plant to get at the seeds and suck out the seeds' oils. They can damage flowers and other plant parts in their effort to reach the seeds, and cause an overall decline in the hibiscus plant's health. Cotton seed bugs may infest the stems as well as the flowers. The bugs emit a foul odor, and may congregate on the sides of buildings. Cotton seed bugs are attracted to light and can be annoying to humans outdoors.

Chemical Controls

• Several chemical insecticides are available for treating cotton seed bug, but the use of some of them are restricted to professionals. Insecticides may eventually lose their effectiveness as the bugs adapt, so monitor the bug population to be sure the pesticide is still working. The most common chemicals for pesticides available to the home gardener are malathion and lindane. Other effective chemical controls include methyl parathion, dieldrin and dimethoate. Neem oil smothers and kills exposed insects, as well. Check the product label to be sure it contains an active ingredient formulated to kill Oxycarenus hyalinipennis and that it is safe to use on flowering plants like hibsicus. Follow label directions carefully. Spray the plants according to which life cycle stage the insects have achieved, since not all chemicals work on all stages of the insects' development. No beneficial insects are known to kill cotton seed bugs.

Considerations

• Since there are no biological controls for cotton seed bug, combine good cultural practices with insecticides. Keep the tree healthy to help it withstand and recover from cotton seed bug attacks. If the infestation is heavy, prune out infested areas and burn them to destroy the insects. Monitor hibiscus plants regularly to catch infestations before they get out of control.