I’ve been growing my Hawaiian Sunset vine for roughly six months. It’s vigorous and bloomed almost as soon as I dug it in. However, it is attracting ants and the undersides of the leaves have tiny white mucous-like spots. Would like to id the pest and find out what I can use to treat and control it.
~Thanks
WOW lucky you to have a big vine of such incredible flowers!
Looks like mealybug to me. The ants are feeding off the honeynectar the mealybugs secrete. There are many ways to kill them. I used to use Palmolive dish soap in water. You have to hit the bug with the spray to kill it, no systemic activity.
Make sure you do it very early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sun is not hot on the leaves. I would test a small section first to make sue your plant tolerates it.
After a few hours wash the leaves with a strong stream of water. Repeat it in about a week to catch those you missed.
Here are 2 articles I found that might be helpful.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/soapy-spray-rid-mealybugs-plants-28835.html
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/mealybug-control/
