Aphids on hibiscus
UF/IFAS lists hibiscus among the crops melon aphid injures regularly, and in the north a hardy hibiscus, rose of Sharon, is one of the shrubs it overwinters on as eggs — so the winged spring generation can start from a rose of Sharon nearby. On tropical hibiscus indoors or under glass, Aphidius colemani is the parasitoid sold for this aphid. Check leaf undersides, since that is where the colonies are, and keep ants off. Outdoors, conserve the wild parasitoids and predators instead.
At a glance
- Damage
- Curled, puckered leaves, heavy honeydew, cucurbit viruses
- Type
- Sap feeding · virus vector
- Settings
- Under glass, Field, Garden, Indoors
- Threshold
- 5–10 winged per card per week (UC IPM, greenhouse ornamentals)
- Release
- Aphidius colemani
- Rate
- 0.25–4 /m² per release indoors or under glass
How to confirm it
Under a 10× lens the front of the head is flat, with no bumps between the antennae, and the cornicles are short and entirely black. Colonies sit mostly on leaf undersides throughout the plant, not only at the tips; green peach aphid has a notched head and gathers at growing points.
Identification, lifecycle, degree days and every control option are on the full Melon aphid profile. Not sure it is this pest? Answer four questions about the damage.
Work it out
How many do I need?
Carries Aphidius colemani and hibiscus through so nothing is re-entered. Open the calculator →