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Folded leaves with little black bugs inside

Kateliza27 (10b)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

My ficus microcarpa plant has a lot of folded leaves like tacos. When I opened them up, I see many black bugs inside. They are thin and around 1 cm in length. Most of thsee infected leaves are baby leaves. I tried to snip the folded leaves off, but there are way too many, and the tree is big and tall (about 8 feet or taller. Please give me advice on how to get rid of these bugs.

Thank you

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Comments (12)

Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
halves of leaves showing bugs
Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
2 folded leaves
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wisconsitom
7 years ago
Are you sure there's a need to get rid of these bugs? Are they causing some harm?
Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
bug
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years ago
Thrips.
Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
The leaves are covered with yellow and brown dots. I assumed that is done by the bugs.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
indoor or outdoor plant ...

ken
Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
@Ken: this is outdoor plant.
Kateliza27 (10b)
Original Author
7 years ago
@rhizo_1: I googled thrisps, and the bugs I have do look like thrisps. I will search for more on how to control them. However, I appreciate any advice you may have. Thanks.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thrip control can be difficult and is certainly multidimensional. What is your general location? Your particular thrip infestation may very well be caused by the pesky Leaf-gall Thrip, a common pest of Ficus microcarpa.
wisconsitom
7 years ago
Make sure treatment selected is in scale with degree of "problem". Yes, thrips-at least those that live mostly within flowers-are notoriously hard to manage, yet even on this tropical plant, it may well be very late in growing season-if such exist wherever this is-and such damage is utterly to be expected. That's my angle.....is this a worthy attempt at pest control-learning this plant is out-doors makes it less likely in my opinion, since so many more natural enemies of things like thrips also exist out-doors-or is this n ill-advised attempt at killing an insect that's already moved on or is in an area where sprays cannot reach? Maybe not, maybe the whole thing should be pretty much evergreen and these things are indeed getting the best of it. I just alway advise putting maximal energy and effort in the Id'ing and learning-about of any given pest, before reaching for any control regimen.
susan_laird65
last year
I got them on my Ficus tree which is in a large pot. They were on every branch. I had to cut the tree back to the stump. I’ve never seen anything like it !!! Luckily with Fixus they grow back in full in 6 mos.

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