I know it is not a very good picture, but they are a light greenish color with a brown head. They have legs in the front that they move along with. It appears there is only one in each bud. They DO NOT flip or hop away, so I don't think it is a hibuscus (gall) midge. If I try to knock it off my finger, it can lower itself down with a thread or web like a spider does. It is about a quarter inch long.
Any clues? Thanks
Marcy
Probably one of the first instars of the hibiscus sawfly. If you've got one, you've got more!
Well, that's possible I guess, but when I googled that, it says they eat the leaves. I am finding these inside the dropped flower buds if I tear them apart. There doesn't seem to be any damage to any leaves anywhere.
They only thing I could find that eats the flowers is the hibiscus midge, but it says those jump or hop. These only crawl.
Thanks.
Marcy
I see what you mean. Have you tried putting them on the black surface to see if they'll flip? It sure does sound like them. And in dropped buds, too. Maybe yours are just lazy - or too full. LOL (Sorry - I know this is serious.)
http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/pestalrt/midgefin1.htm
I'm back. Just had a thought. Maybe the worms that you are taking out of the buds are not mature enough to "flip" yet.
The site said:
"One interesting behavior the helps in this pests identification is their ability to jump or spring several centimeters. When an infested hibiscus buds are placed in a plastic vegetable storage bag, fully developed larvae begin to emerge within a day. When the larvae are removed from the bag and placed on a dark flat surface you will notice they begin to "flip" themselves significant distances. "
Try that. And let me know, please. I am really curious.
I tried that. The ones in the baggie never would come out of the buds. I still have some in baggies that have been there 4 days. The ones I got by tearing the buds open (like the one on my finger) I put on every dark surface I could find trying to get them to jump or flip. Nothing. They just crawled. They do have that strange ability to make a web or sting of something to let themselves down from falling. I will try leaving them in the flower in a baggie longer to see it they develope this ability to flip.
Thanks.
Marcy
