Hibiscus Scentless Plant Bug: Appearance, Territory, Damage and Life Cycle

Latin Name: Niesthrea Louisianica

Appearance: Niesthrea Louisianica, the hibiscus scentless plant insect, is connected with rose-of-Sharon and hibiscus. The body and legs of this little beetle are predominantly white to gray with black patterns. The head and wing outer edges are yellow to orange. Nymphs are smaller than adults, lack wings, and have purple abdomens with white patterns. The eggs are a deep reddish-brown color. It consumes flower buds and seeds. Eggs are placed in masses of one to 36 on the undersides of leaves beginning in late April and early May. Each female is capable of laying approximately 700 eggs. Newly born nymphs feed on growing blooms as well as seed pods from the previous year. In June, the first generation develops and lays eggs on buds, flowers, and seed pods.

Hosts Plants: Hibiscus scentless plant bugs are related with hibiscus and rose-of-Sharon. They feed on flower buds and seeds by probing foliage and seeds with small thread-like mouthparts and injecting saliva. The liquid nutrients are subsequently sucked out by the bugs. Hibiscus scentless plant bugs have also been used as a biological control for velvet leaf, a weedy plant in the same family as hibiscus and rose-of-Sharon.

Territory: The scentless plant insect (Niesthrea Louisianica) is native to the Mississippi Valley from Arizona to Florida, north to New York, and west to Iowa. Adults and nymphs feed on the seeds of malvaceous plants. Rose of Sharon, hibiscus, and abutilon species are among the host plants.

Damage Insect Cause: Hibiscus scentless plant bugs are often not destructive or common enough to be considered a true economic pest, and their eating does not cause apparent harm to the overall health of the afflicted plant. Males survive for around 50 days throughout the growth season, while females live for roughly two months.

Life History and Habits: Males survive for around 50 days throughout the growth season, while females live for roughly two months. As adults, hibiscus scentless plant bugs overwinter in leaf litter on the ground. The hibiscus scentless plant bug’s yellow patches can range from brilliant yellow to orange.