Look at this little #^*@

He was enjoying a June's Joy bud and there was evidence of his having enjoyed two others. Now I don't mind sharing but when the creeepy crawlies get my hibiscus buds forget it.

What the heck is it??

Ardesia--
we've got to find out what it is.... I found one this evening... IN THE ACT... he had his head buried in the bud ... with his BUTT sticking out... too involved to worry about me... I think this is the culprit that has destroyed half of my Confederate Rose Mallow.... I put him in a jar, with the bud... I'll show it to my little nephew... he's 12 and is a BRILLIANT "bugologist"... I wonder if it will become some kind of butterfly or moth while in the jar?? hmmmm.... I'll let you know what the kiddo says...

Thank's Shoobnanny, I don't have a clue what it is but he (or she) really did a number on my plants. I started checking other buds that had yellowed and quite a few had those holes bored into them.

Wasn't there a post awhile back about something eating hibiscus buds?

There are hibiscus bud thrips that cause the bud to fall off whole. This little guy is eerily similar to a ladybug baby, although those tend to have more color. Before doing him in, make sure he isn't eating aphids, who may be the real culprits of your losses. Sometimes we eliminate the good helper bugs.

Interesting but there are no aphids around. He had his head right into the little hole he had bored in the bud.

ditto Ardesia, no aphids here either...

FYI - That's the cotton square borer, which is the larva of the gray hairstreak, an attractive butterfly.

This is what ladybug larvae look like - (this is the seven spotted lady beetle). Others have the same shape, with slightly different markings.

People laugh at me because I can't get excited over butterflies. I can only think of them as hungry larvae munching out on my precious plants. Shoo! go away! Eat something else!
Martha

:-) & LOL Martha, I think about it but I usually plant enough for both of us.

Ceejaytown, you are the winner, that is a cotton square borer for sure. It matches the pictures perfectly. I have seen that hairstreak around too.

Yay for my team!!