DATE:   11/14/96
WRITER: Bob Polomski, (864) 656-2604

Fixing Your Weeping Fig

     Q.  Within the last month or two, my eight-year-old weeping
fig (Ficus benjamina) began to weep a sticky substance, like
sap, onto the surfaces of the leaves. It doesn't seem to have
harmed the plant, but it is unsightly. What, if anything, can be
done to correct and prevent this from happening?  
     A.  It is possible that your F. benjamina is infested with
soft scale insects or mealybugs. Both of these sucking insects
excrete honeydew when they feed on the plant sap. However, Ficus
could produce a sticky substance without insects feeding on it,
so inspect your plant closely.
     Mealybugs are easier to see because their bodies are
surrounded by white cottony tufts of wax. Look for mealybugs on
the undersides and axils of the leaves, shoot tips, and the
crevices of stems or branches. They are often at least an eighth
of an inch long.
     Mealybugs can be removed with a toothpick or tweezers. 
Spot-treating them with a cotton-tipped swab dipped in rubbing
alcohol or using an insecticidal soap will also be effective.
     Soft scale insects tend to be more difficult to notice,
especially those species which take on the color and appearance 
of the stem or trunk. Many soft scales, however, have light and
dark brown markings that make them fairly easy to detect. Also,
adult scales often noticeably protrude from the leaf or twig.
     Use a magnifying glass to inspect both sides of the leaves,
stems, and limbs closely. Try to dislodge any strange appearing
bumps with a pin or sharp pencil point. A live scale will often
hang by its hair-like mouthparts when dislodged. A shiny spot of
honeydew may remain where the scale was attached. If you need
further confirmation, take a close look and you'll see legs and
antennae attached to the shell.
     Soft scales are difficult to control. The adults can be
picked off by hand or with a pair of tweezers. Small populations
can be killed using the cotton swab and rubbing alcohol treatment
described for mealybugs. 
     Insecticidal soap is effective on the crawlers or young
scales. It is less effective against the adult scales. Adult
females will lay eggs under their body. This causes them to raise
up off the plant. Use your magnifying glass to time your
insecticidal soap application so it coincides with the time when
the crawlers are most active and present in the highest numbers.
     Insecticidal soap kills only by direct contact with the
insect. Be sure to apply it to all surfaces of the plant where
scales or mealybugs are found.
     Before using an insecticidal soap, check the label to see if
your plant is listed. You may have to test a small area on your
plant for phytotoxicity. It may take seven to 10 days for
phytotoxicity to show up. If your plant shows sensitivity, rinse
the soap off your Ficus once the insects are killed.
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     If you have gardening questions or comments, write to 
Agricultural News & Publications, A-101 Poole Agricultural
Center, Box 340311, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0311.
                             END