Question
I have what looks likes spider webs on my Ficus Tree.  The Tree is healthy.  The bugs leave a residue on the table that sits under the tree, which i have to clean almost daily.  The residue is sticky and causes the dust from life to stick to the wood floor.  I cannot sweep in that area, I have to use a cleaner to get the "stuff" up.  What can i do to rid my Ficus tree of this pest - i have tried several doses of "pest control for spider mites" but they return with a vengeance.

Answer
H Elizabeth,

I don't know whether you have spider mites, but if you do they are not the cause of the sticky residue. The sticky stuff is called "honeydew" and it is secreted by mealybugs and by scale insects. Mealybugs look like tiny bits of white cotton. Scale insects are covered by a hard dark shell and appear as small, slightly raised bumps on the leaves and stems.

The key to eliminating either mealybugs or scale is to treat even the ones that you cannot see. That means thoroughly drenching all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet. It is also best if you repeat this treatment all over again in 5 to 7 days to catch any that you missed the first time. After that, you should check your plant weekly to see if they return.

I do not recommend any pesticides because they are all hazardous to use and not 100% effective. The best non-toxic treatment for mealybug and scale is called Brand X Foliage Cleaner. It is available through Southwest Plantscape Products in California (www.southwestplantscape.com). Their phone is 1-800-333-7977.It is a silicon-based product so it is very slippery. Its ability to penetrate is probably the key to its effectiveness because it gets into the tiny crevices that other sprays miss.

You may want to try spraying with rubbing alcohol that will help break through the hard outer barrier of the scale and kill it. Mix 1 part alcohol with 8 to 10 parts of water. Add a little liquid soap to help it spread.

Sun Spray Ultra Fine horticultural oil is also mixed with water and effectively smothers the scale. Complete coverage is important.

Another good non-toxic spray is Hot Pepper Wax. Its main ingredient is hot cayenne pepper that overheats the plant pests. There is an information website for it at www.hotpepperwax.com.

Finally neem oil works similarly to horticultural oil. It should be diluted with water and Pine Sol to counteract the onion-like odor. All of these are available nationwide at plant and garden centers and also by mail order.

No matter what you use, it will be messy. If possible, move your tree outside to do the spraying. Otherwise, you will have to place a plastic tarp or lots of newspaper under the tree to catch the runoff.

Important: None of these should be applied to plants in direct sun or in high temps.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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