skip to main content

identify ficus pest

16 years ago

I planted a large ficus benjamina in my yard that used to be in my office at work but grew too large. Since it was in the office, I noticed some leaves, mostly new ones, folding in half. I opened one and there are very small, long skinny black "bugs". You can see them move and when I've had a handful of the affected leaves, you can feel them crawl on you. They don't seem to be "contagious" because the ficus used to be on my porch with other plants and they never "caught" these bugs. Just the ficus. Other ficus that I've had on the porch have caught them also. I used to be able to control it by just removing the leaves, but now it is too huge and has too many folded leaves to pick them all. I've sprayed with SEVEN but it doesn't seem to work since the leaves are folded and the insecticide can't reach the bugs. What are they? What can I do? Strangely, other than the affected leaves, the plant seems healthy but I'm afraid since its so large they will get out of control and kill the plant. Once, when I opened a folded leaf, a small white moth flew out, but since it only happened once (I've had this tree for many years), I don't know if that was a coincidence or if these little black bugs are baby moths of some sort. Help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

jean001
16 years ago
Cuban laurel thrips. They're specific to only certain Ficus species.

They don't kill the plant. But, because they attack only the new leaves, they make the tree look nasty from time to time.

Some folks cope by lightly shearing the plant when the damage occurs, then discarding the clippings.

Here's info from U of FL
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/thrips/cuban_laurel_thrips.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Cuban laurel thrips
aprilayla
Original Author
16 years ago
Holy cow! thank you so much! I've looked at so many different sites and have seen so many different pics of pests that I'm itchy! LOL! I checked out the website and that is exactly what they are. Interesting that it says a biological method of control is parasitic wasps because I find small wasps hanging out in the tree rather often. Thanks again!
Related Discussions
help with identifying a pest and getting rid of it
Q
Comments (6)
sounds like old osmacote fertilizer pellets .... ignore them .... the fungus gnats might be a problem .... gnats are a function of over wet soil.. as are the squishy fert pellets ... google fungus gnats.. check the images page.. and let us know if that is the current problem ... its been covered a lot in the last page or two of the forum .... but we have to ID the problem correctly before we suggest cures .... you are close to killing this thing with too much love... it took a hit when it lost its leave ... dont rot the roots trying to save it .... ken
...See More
Please identify possible pest?
Q
Comments (48)
Appropriate pot size is determined by soil choice, not by current root or soil volume as compared to the volume of the pot one is bumping a plant up to. When using media that support no or very little perched water, there is no limit to how large a pot might be in comparison to existing pot size or root mass - you can pot a plug in a 10 gallon nursery can with no ill effects. When using media with excessive water retention, one must be very vigilant when it comes to increasing pot size to accommodate a root/soil mass that has become congested. For those that don't know, the term 'container capacity' refers to the volume of water retained in a container medium at the moment it has just stopped draining, subsequent to it having been watered to beyond saturation. It tells us how much water a medium holds against the force of gravity. How many holes there are in a pot has no bearing on how much water a medium retains at container capacity. If using identical pots and equal volumes of the same medium in those pots, the only difference being 1 pot has several large holes in the bottom and sides and the other 1 small hole in the bottom, the volume of water retained at container capacity will be the same in both pots at container capacity. A pot with many large holes will drain FASTER than a pot with a single small hole, but there is nothing significant to be gained when using the pot that drains to container capacity in 20 seconds vs the pot that takes 2 minutes. There might be a small difference in the amount of water that evaporates from the medium between waterings in pots that have multiple holes exposed to moving air, but that difference would be relatively inconsequential, based on the description. Al
...See More
Help identifying this web and this...fungus? on ficus leaves
Q
Comments (8)
Not a problem. If it were actual sprinters, they too wouldn't harm the tree and would eat anything that may. I'd just give it a thorough hose down and you should be fine. I spray all of my plants multiple times with Bayer 3 in 1 insect disease and mite control before I bring them back inside. Last year I battled spider mites all winter. With a smaller plant they're not hard to eradicate with isopropyl alcohol mixed with water, but it was a pain on a tree the size of mine. So far, with the Bayer 3 in 1, I haven't had any issues. Spder mites like young tender leaves best. You'd find them there, usually on the underside if you had them. The tree would also have deformed young leaves and they'll also be shed from the tree before maturing. It took me a while last year to figure out why there would be dehydrated looking young leaves all over the floor near my tree. Most kept telling me it was cultural and it was driving me crazy not being able to figure it out at the time.
...See More
Help identifying pest on Ficus Lyrata please!
Q
Comments (1)
Is there a sticky substance on the affected leaves or on the floor under the plant? Can you take a couple of pictures of the underneath sides of the leaves?
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Tree Care: Common Tree Diseases and What to Do About Them

By Falon Mihalic

Learn to recognize trees that may be affected by diseases or pests so you can quickly take action

GARDENING GUIDES Texas Gardener: What to Do in July

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Beat the heat with sun-loving blooms, pest control, good lawn care and sun protection. Pick up the pace for planting and planning

HOUSEPLANTS Play Up Some Fiddleleaf Figs for a Lively Indoor Tune

By creative jewish mom.com

Strike a dramatic chord in a minimalist scene or a country note in a rustic setting — fiddleleaf fig plants harmonize with any style

GARDENING GUIDES Weed War: When and How to Use Chemical Herbicides

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Before you spray, arm yourself with knowledge about which weed killers — natural or synthetic — are right for your yard

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

EXTERIORS Care and Training for a Vine-Covered Home

By Laura Gaskill

Love the look but don’t want the ruin? Learn how to have vine-draped walls without all the cracks and crumbling

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

GARDENING GUIDES Roses: Crowning Touch of Gardens

Whether you're the Miss or Mister America of gardening or take a hands-off approach, roses can be a winning addition to your landscape

URBAN GARDENS Gardeners Champion Nature's Cause in the City

By Annie Thornton

Garden advocates and artists in San Francisco have joined forces to find creative ways to bring nature back into the urban landscape

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Eastern Redbud

By Becky Harris

With romantic pink blooms and heart-shape leaves, this ornamental tree has been inspiring affection since the days of the founding fathers

Sponsored

More Discussions

fjellheim maple leaves rotted

3

Why is this one upper stem of my Dracaena shriveling?

4

Blue Fescue is Not Blue?

4

Groundcovers for Full Sun Exposure in Clay

6

Native ground cover for shade in Philadelphi

2