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» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2005 » Ficus Benjamina has bugs! What are they?

   
Author Garden: Ficus Benjamina has bugs! What are they?
lt1yw
Gardener
Member # 4538

Gnome 4 posted      Profile for lt1yw     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Hey all, this is my first post!
I need help with my old Ficus. Its an inherited plant from my deceased grandmother. It is probably 6.5ft tall and at least 15 years old.

The problem is a skinny little bug that is killing the new growth. The new leaves stay curled up and eventually die. When I pry the new leaves open, I see a bunch of these critters. Its dark, about 1-2mm long, and very skinny. Maybe kind of tapered at the tail end. They seem to be only on the new growth.

Please help!
Thanks

Plants: 3 | From: Saint Louis, MO | Registered: Jan 2005  |  Seeded: 24.207.242.201
Amy R.
guest


Gnome 1 posted            Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Sorry to hear about your plant. =( It sounds to me like thrips, which are nasty little critters. Here is a link that might help. Good luck!

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bugs.html

Seeded: 24.255.50.223
lt1yw
Gardener
Member # 4538

Gnome 14 posted      Profile for lt1yw     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Bingo! thats them! Thanks so much. I went through the plant last night and cut off all affected leaves that I could see, then sprayed it with a bug killer that should take care of the rest.
Thanks again!

Plants: 3 | From: Saint Louis, MO | Registered: Jan 2005  |  Seeded: 24.207.242.201
MissJamie
Garden Pro!
Member # 3266

Gnome 1 posted      Profile for MissJamie     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
oh wowzers! i hope i don't get any bugs like that on any of my plants this spring! if you get them again or any other type of bug, i've heard and read that you can mix up a spray in a spray bottle with warm soapy water and spray that on them and it'll kill the bugs but it won't harm the plant. i don't know for sure if this works but sounds good to me [dunno]

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*~*Last night I played a blank tape at full blast. The mime next door went nuts.
*~* http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2125497034

Plants: 2003 | From: Madison Heights,Va | Registered: Aug 2004  |  Seeded: 205.188.116.68
   

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