Hibiscus – Leaves Vainy, Then Gone

Q: Something is eating my hibiscus, the leaves are spider web looking and then they are gone, nothing left but the veins.

A: It’s likely the leaves are being consumed by hibiscus sawfly larvae. The adult insect looks like a housefly. She lays eggs on the underside of hibiscus leaves in early April. The eggs hatch into caterpillar-like larvae which damage the leaves like you describe. Insecticidal soap or any garden insecticide will kill them if you can direct the spray under the leaves.