Question
Hi Kathy,
I'm so glad to hear you mention tropic's.  I live in the British Virgin Islands
and have three ficus trees all with the same problem.  Their leaves are folding
in half and are filled with little black bugs which I just notices have very small
organg/yellow specs.  I would assume they are eggs.
I have been spraying with safer and now with mythlain.  It's never been this
bad, but we have had a lot of wind.
A second question is how deep are ficus roots?  I have them in large 24" pots.   
Also, I'd like to prune them, when is the best time.
Thank you for your help!
Not all is perfect in paradise.

Answer
Hi Judy...the bugs you mention are probably aphids, I would try Neem Oil 100%  pure, that absorbs into the leaf and doesn't wash off like the other sprays you are using.  Neem is also organic and safe to use.  The plants could also be stressed and drying out causing bugs to take advantage of the situation.  

The problem with ficus is you do not want to plant them as their roots will up lift your foundation, wreck your water pipes, crumble your cement pool, etc, etc...  You could prune them now as this is still in the growing season.  Don't think you could hurt a ficus..