Q:I'm seeing mealybugs on the trunk of my gumbo limbos. My car that I park underneath it is getting sticky and black. What should I do?

H.M., Kendall

A: You sent a sample of the insects you found on the trunk of your gumbo limbo tree. These insects are beneficial and are not mealybugs, although they look similar. They are ''mealybug destroyers'', the immature form of a species of ladybug. They feed on mealybugs, scales, aphids and other plant pests.

An easy way to tell the difference between ladybug larvae and mealybugs is that the ladybug larvae walk and are larger. Also, mealybugs would not be found on tree trunks; they tend to cluster on thin stems and leaves of plants.

The cause of the stickiness is honeydew, which is excreted by insects in the tree canopy. In your case, it's a scale new to science. It has no name yet but is becoming a problem on gumbo limbos and crotons. The black growth is called sooty mold. Once the pest is under control, these will disappear.

To learn more about this new scale, visit http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/pi-pest-alert.html.

To properly diagnose the pest as well as recommended treatments, contact your local County Extension office.

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