I just spent a half hour picking them off my Ficus with a pair of tweezers -
didn't want to spray anything nasty in the bathroom where it is located.

--

John T. Jarrett
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"Dave G" wrote in message
om...
If you can, take the tree outside and use a garden hose to knock off
the spider mites. The black things are a scale insect. Try an oil
spray or insecticidal soap. They shouldn't bother your husband. I've
also used soapy water with so so results. Hope this helps.

Dave G
On Sun, 9 Mar 2003 16:51:18 -0500, "EPPack"
wrote:

One of the two good sized ficus benjamina trees in my family room has
been
infested with some kind of bugs. I'm *fairly* sure it started with spider
mites, assuming these are the ones that leave the fine little webs all
over
the place. There is also a sticky residue (honeydew?) on many of the
leaves
now, but I don't know if spider mites did that or not. However, today I
found a number of small flat black bugs on the smaller twigs, lined up in
rows along some of the twigs. They are about the size and shape of sesame
seeds, and definitely very black, not white. I've had those white ones
(mealy bugs, maybe?) in years past on other plants, but never black
things.
They may be feeding on the sticky stuff, not sure, but it looks like it.

Needless to say, I want to get my poor ficus healthy again, if that is
even
possible. Luckily the two trees are in opposite sides of the room, so the
infestation has not spread. My problem is that my husband is very
sensitive
to any kind of insecticides including the good kinds, so I'm wondering if
anyone has any kind of "home grown" remedy that might help. I cut off the
twigs with the black bugs, but I know I didn't get all of them.

TIA

elaine