What is wrong with my hibiscus? Help?

Ok, I've had a bug attack on my 2 newest hibiscus in my front yard. There have been white flies and these little black ant-looking things. The soaps never get rid of everthing so I finally turned to Neem Oil this past Saturday. I sprayed them all. Well, yesterday, when I got home, I found that this plant is showing some sort of brown edges on most all of it's leaves. And then there was this white fungus-y, gunk "dripping" off of one leaf onto another. This same kind of gunk was on the plant last Saturday before I sprayed it with Neem.

Also, yesterday (same day as these pics), I found a very funky and exotic-looking spider on the plant. In fact i saw him this morning - he hasn't moved all night. Could he be causing this? Or is it something else? (I'll post his pics, too)

And my neighbors have a cat that roams ... thought maybe this could possibly be vomit? Not sure ... HELP PLEASE!!

Another pic of the plant ...

And another pic of the plant ...

Photo of the spider ...

Another photo of the spider...

Was putting neem oil on these a bad idea? I also noticed this morning that the other of these 2 new hibiscus put out a very short, small bloom today instead of it's normal size. The other red hibiscus there that I sprayed (older plants) are not showing any signs of stress at all or any effects from the Neem.

This second hibiscus also has been having a bug problem. Help?

I don't know what the problem is, but that's the most interesting spider I've ever seen...

Well, here's an update on the spider. I posted a bulletin/post in the Bug ID forum and they said it's a Green Lynx and it won't harm the plants. Veeeeeeeeeeery weird-looking to me, I was very scared!! But I went to the DG web link on these and saw that they are good stalkers of their prey- very patient. So mine must be waiting on someone who's been visiting my hibiscus to return because he's been there since 3:00 pm yesterday afternoon and as I am talking to you now, he's still there "perched" on that same leaf!

BTW, how do you post a hyperlink on these?

I agree, very interesting spider!

Amanda, you live in Texas, almost across from me in Florida.

According to HVH, Acephate a/k/a Orthene red ant killer, will kill almost all bugs that attack our hibs. I powdered all my hibs, then put some under the mulch and on top of the soil. I don't see any predators today, and my black dragon just bloomed for the first time. (which reminds me, I need to post)

Try that and see how it works.

Just be careful you do not put it where bumble bees or birds exist....it can and will kill them.

You can buy it at home depot, lowes and ace hardware.

AWESOME - thanks!!

Cat4, won't that also kill her beneficial spider?

Also, you're gonna LOVE the Black Dragon bloom - mine is just a bloom machine and of all my hibiscus, it's probably my "most" favorite :-)
Although, I am admittedly fickle, lol ;-)

Oh, that spider is too pretty to kill. He should take care of any insects that might be bothering your plant. About that blob, could a large bird have flown over the plant????

I was wondering about the bird possibility, but it's still wet and gooey ... not hard and dried yet and that was yesterday evening. It's also on the same plant, same area as it was this past weekend when I sprayed everything with Neem oil. when I did, it knocked this stuff off smoothly. Now it's back.

True about the spider - didn't think of that.

I didn't think about bird poo, ya know, I've had that happen to several of my plants and I just wash it off...

Well, the consistency of this isn't poo ... wish it ws in a way. It's more like slime that stays wet and doesn't harden.

In the immortal words of DD Amy, "one word, two letters, EW"!

AMEN!

Also, I went and took a closer look at the pics. The yshow that there's some white colors film on the surrounding parts of the plant as well.

I would use a Q-tip and some alcohol on the white stuff in case it is a case of mealybugs getting started. It won't hurt the plant. If it continues, maybe a fungicide spray would help.

Ugh! Mealy bugs!