F. Benjamina new pest? What is it?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Something new has arrived bug wise. I sprayed a couple days in a row with isopropyl alcohol / water mix and can't find anymore of these pests currently.

Anyway, I don't have a photo of the bug, just photos of what they do to the leaves.

When I saw them, they were small, pale yellow / off white. They were round or slightly oval and didn't move much, but you could easily wipe them off. About 2 to 3 times larger than a spider mite, though, that's still pretty small.

Definitely not typical mites I have seen, and definitely not mealy bugs. They kind of look like thrip larvae, but I do not have a single adult thrip anywhere. And I've checked, I know exactly where they like to hide.

Lastly, they only seem to suck nutrients from young leaves (my tree is on a growth spurt currently). They do not affect mature growth.

Here are the marks they leave on young leaves. Notice the little brown specks?

Any ideas? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

Dave
Original Author
10 years ago
Found two more of these bugs. They only hangout on the underside of the leaves.

Sorry the pic was the best I could get.
jean001a
10 years ago
It's impossible to say from the photos. Perhaps taking the leaves to a large local garden center -- just in case they are alive, package the leaves in a clear container -- to ask knowledgeable folks there.

Are you certain they are critters? Do they move? Or are they small sap-like blobs on the leaves?
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Dave
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I'm certain they are pests. They have soft bodies and you can easily crush them. When poked, they do move. I also noticed the first time I sprayed with alcohol, they all seemed to congregate on the under side of a leaf. They also easily can be wiped off the leaf.

Unfortunutely, I don't feel anyone at my local garden center is even that knowledgeable. I've tried dealing with them in the past and have just always had way better help on these forums.

Anyway, did another spray with the alcohol / water mix. Thoroughly drenched the tree. I can't find any more of them at the moment.

normally I wouldn't be worried as I know I can get them under control, but I'm going to Florida for a couple weeks and will have someone caring for my plants. They won't be inspecting for bugs and my humidifier will also be off. The plants will be going from a 60-70% RH to a 40% RH while I'm gone. I'm worried any of these that may hang on will just thrive and reproduce when the air is dry while I'm away.
kimmq
10 years ago
Your University of Vermont Cooperative Extension Service will be able to identify that insect and advise you if it is a pest or not.

kimmq is kimmsr
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