What fun reading this thread.
Deb, that is interesting to think it might be a preference of one plant over another. .

What do we have here? They seem to have just appeared all over a hibiscus plant. They're inside the seed pods too.

Well they are very colorful little buggers. I'll be curious to find out what they are. No clue here.

I've never seen them before either. I think they are pretty colorful too. Interesting how some of those little red ones are much smaller.

wildflowers said:What do we have here? They seem to have just appeared all over a hibiscus plant. They're inside the seed pods too.

I'm looking for yours and think my A might be this -
http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

It sure looks like it to me... for what that's worth!

dormantsrule's A is -black and orange Plant Bug - Prepops insitivus

dormantsrule said:


No clue what these are -

A

I think it may be Taedia:

http://www.austinbug.com/surve...

13th picture from top.

Wildflowers - your red nymph looks like a leaf rolling weevil but the adults usually have a black head.

Wildflowers - I see you saw my first post. I had both insects on my screen and made a mistake and referenced the wrong one. You must have seen my post while I was editing to show the correct bug. My apologies! I initially thought it was prepops insitivus but prepops lacks the two black dots and the antennae are different:

Oh dear - I must be slow tonight. I see someone else got the prepops.... Some nights I shouldn't post. Again, my apologies.

Hey old gardener, obviously I'm not real keen on ID's but I see what you mean about those two dots on the back.

OldGardener said:

I think it may be Taedia:

http://www.austinbug.com/surve...

13th picture from top.

It sure does look like it. Thanks OldGardener

It is the nymph stage of something. Looks like there are two stages in the first photo.

Lynn, there looks to be two stages of the same 'something'

sorry, not the best pic, I will definitely be out there in the morning to see if they are still there and try for a better image.

I would be trapping them, I think they will do lots of damage to some plants.

Such a colourful bug can only provide entertainment!

Niesthrea louisianica ..

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/20...

Oh my! it sure looks like they will be providing plenty of entertainment as I'm out there pulling off seed heads full of those colorful little bugs.
I sure didn't contain them like Lynn said to do! Now they have all disappeared inside the seed heads.

Janet, thank you for finding my bugs and the links! It common name is Scentless Plant Bug. When I first looked at the name I thought it said senseless plant bug but apparently it's found to be useful and the species has been used to control of the annual weed, Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) which is considered invasive & the bug has been found to reduce seed production by 98%. I need to get out there for seed saving before it gets on my other hibiscus.

How these bugs always seem to find their host plants is amazing to me!

http://bugguide.net/node/view/...

You're welcome Christine.

It might sound senseless to anyone but the bugs to eat the seeds.

Your outlook depends on whether or not you need to keep the seeds, and whether you will have enough.

As they are of use for 'biological' control it would be wise to leave them if you need Abutilon theophrasti to be eradicated. It's all about need really.

These are one of the prettiest bugs and nymphs I have seen!

JRsbugs said:...
These are one of the prettiest bugs and nymphs I have seen!

I agree. The pattern on the back looks like batik fabric.

An ID.
It truly is beautiful. Wonder if you could just use something like one of those little bags with the draw string. Put it over the unaffected seed heads, so the bugs can't get to them.