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California Gardening

Possible Pest ID, Please

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I seem to have lots of these all over a Ficus Benjamina in my entryway - in a pot of course so not worried about invasive roots. They are mostly on underside of leaves but some on the tops of leaves and some on branches.

I was going to just wipe them off but if they are some beneficial looking for a place to overwinter, I'll leave them alone. I can find NO evidence of any damage. There are hundreds of these on the tree.

Inland Empire SoCal about where LA County ends and San Bernardino County starts as you go along the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.

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Comments (3)

lgteacher
8 years ago
It looks like scale. Are they stuck on tight?
gregbradley thanked lgteacher
gyr_falcon
8 years ago
It is scale and generally control measures are necessary. Unless you use a systemic control, you will need to make repeated applications because they can be difficult to eradicate. A horticultural oil should do the trick. The best control can be had while the scale is in the "crawler" phase, and they are so small then, you likely won't be able to see them crawling on the leaves (they are tiny specks). So don't miss the repeat applications per the oil's instructions, should you choose to use oil. It also helps to control the small ant population at the same time, because it is not uncommon for ants to feed on the honeydew and protect the scale from natural predators.
gregbradley thanked gyr_falcon
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It's hard to tell exactly from the pic, but it looks kinda like leaf miner. Leaf miner is a tiny insect which burrows between the top and bottom epidermis of the leaf. It wanders around in a random path. From that description you can tell if you have leaf miners and look up the appropriate treatment if you do. Small seedlings get sheared off at ground level by cutworms. The solution is easy. Cutworms must encircle the stem to do their work, so you can block them by inserting a toothpick or matchstick into the soil parallel to and against the stem. Gardening has many opportunities for failure. I hope you have lots of big successes to compensate for the failures. Jim
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Thanks again for the help...As I have said, the critters have been sprayed once with pyrethrum and potential re-infestation is being monitored. I'll have my son download some B52s for good measure. Organic farming may not be what you envision Ken. We have a whole arsenal of pesticides that are allowed for use. The caveat is they need to be derived from plant, animal or mineral sources, along with all fillers or inert ingredients. In order for us to use a product our organic certifier, CCOF, requires it must be on a list of approved materials with OMRI or the WSDA. Good or bad, Organic has become big business; we're not just a bunch of hippie tree huggers anymore...though I do own a pair of Birkenstocks! Barbara Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Materials
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Comments (6)
There is no reason to get rid of these beneficial predators just because you fear their 'bite'. They will soon dissipate even before they develop wings, and it is doubtful that you'll come across one again. As adults, they can fly to sources of potential meals and also fly away from the paws of curious children. Teach your children that they should not handle insects or animals of any kind, without permission. Even ladybugs can bite. I've had a praying mantid draw blood. Think of all of the stinging caterpillars!
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Comments (1)
It's a larva of a springtail.
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gregbradley
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for the info. Don't know why I was resisting that ID. Have misplaced my Loupe so really couldn't see them well.

They aren't stuck so perhaps are already weak or dead. I had used Safari systemic on other potted plants in my entryway and probably applied it to this as well. The other plants had some mealybugs.

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