I hate that Merkity. Had an issue last summer where I was loosing a lot of buds from my Brilliants. No other plants were affected. Sometimes I found a tiny caterpillars eating the buds. Seven dust ended the issue, but I suspect it was from sawflies. Attached is an image of a predator watching me and my plants. He was on the chain for a grow light. If he's ridding me of pest, he is welcome to ride out the winter inside. Just cant tell the wife. Ha!
Ed

nice! praying mantis - i don't get to see those out here too often. i definitely was encouraging the lady bugs as much as possible - they really helped with the aphid issue.

Really starting to get tired of the battle with these leaf suckers. I have managed to knock out an early infestation of spider mites on a few plants. Now I find them on some of my wife's non-hibiscus plants. I do have a lot of plants, and the weather is now freezing at night. These 'minor skirmishes' will become a declaration of war, if these bugs continue their activities.
Ed