fedipete

[EDIT: got the help I needed. TYSM Fediverse! ❤️]

Plea for diagnosis.
Please help!

What are these black bumps on my fig's leaves?
Looks lime some kind of a beetle but they stay put in the same spot so maybe not?

Is there a way to get rid of them without poisoning the fruits?

I'm in zone 10a.
Boosts appreciated. 🙏

CC @runderful_ryan

#gardening #pests #fig

Jun 15 at 10:06pmWeb
Show threadSilo 🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦5d ago
@fedipete @runderful_ryan
Those look like Scale bugs imo
Show threadEugene Parnell5d ago
@fedipete @runderful_ryan they are some kind of scale insect. The ants hanging around are an indicator because they like to eat the honeydew (waste) that the scale bugs create. You can spray the leaves with insecticidal soap (buy it premade or make some from Castile soap and water). You can also use a neem oil emulsion. The idea is that since they breathe through their skin the liquid clings to them and suffocates them. That often works but doesn't always. But it's a good start
Show threadfedipete5d ago
Thank you so much @eugeneparnell !
I'll try spraying with a neem oil solution and start controlling ant population.
I'm in Southern California, which is basically one giant anthill, so there is a lot of them!
Show threadfedipete5d ago

@eugeneparnell

If I use Castile soap, would you happen to know the soap to water ratio I should use?
Or is Neem oil better (I have both).

Show threadCentaurea5d ago
@fedipete @eugeneparnell I always take ~3 knife scratches for roughly 200ml of water. The ratio doesn't have to be perfect (:
And I would always go soap frist and leave Neem as tool I can escalate to.
If the plant is outdoors however I would try aiming the hose at them first. And wait for the benefical insects to come (despite advertisements soap and neem kill them too!). If the plant is otherwise healthy some suckers won't do much harm, except if there are known insect-borne diseases around.
Show threadfedipete4d ago

@eugeneparnell

What is your opinion of Captain Jack's Dead Bug?

A neighbor recommended it, but I'm not convinced he's well informed.

Show threadEugene Parnell4d ago
@fedipete I have heard of spinosad. I think it's one of the things they use to kill head lice. I've never used it in the garden. It's a general purpose insect killer so will affect anything that crawls in it, so it's a bit broader In its effects than just spraying soapy water. But will kill bugs for sure.
Show threadfedipete3d ago

@eugeneparnell

Thank you so much Eugene!

Show threadThriftstoreBarbie5d ago
@fedipete @runderful_ryan scale insects, specifically female ones. Whats your pest treatment preferences?
Show threadfedipete5d ago

@ThriftstoreBarbie

Thank you so much!

I don't mind spraying as long as it's not anything so toxic that I can't harvest the fruit.

Show threadThriftstoreBarbie5d ago
@fedipete soapy water and a toothbrush is one method. There are systemic pesticides that can be used but you have to time them w harvests
Show threadfedipete5d ago

@ThriftstoreBarbie

Thank you so much for your advice. I'll try either neem oil or soapy water and ant population control per your and @eugeneparnell 's suggestion.

I'll look into systemic pesticides for next harvest.

Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈5d ago
@fedipete @runderful_ryan
Maybe a Scale insect.