To all Ficus Benjamin Tree owners or people with biological knowledge:
Like many others, we have a nice big Ficus Benjamin Tree in our garden. In the last days I noticed that the young leaves of this tree are curled up and disformed. In each curled leave I found waxy white spots (eggs?) and 5-10 quick moving little insects with a tail sticking up, which look some similar to tiny little scorpions. 3 friends of mine have the same problem with their Benjamin Trees in their garden. They have been told by Dominicans, that this insects in this leaves are extreamly dangerous to humans, even life theadening, and that infected trees need to get cut down.
I really can't believe, that there is any truth in this fast spreading rumor. However, I must admit, I'm a little concerned, since we have children sometimes playing in the garden.
I did some research on the internet, but I havn't found a species, which looks like this and didn't come across helpful info so far.
Does anybody have or ever had the same problem with his Benjamin Tree? Does anybody know what kind of pest is it? Is it in any kind dangerous to humans? What is the best way to get rid of this insects? It might be difficult to kill them, since the pest lives surrounded by the curled up leave and is probably pretty good protected against toxid spray.
Thanks in advance for any kind of helpful info!
Like many others, we have a nice big Ficus Benjamin Tree in our garden. In the last days I noticed that the young leaves of this tree are curled up and disformed. In each curled leave I found waxy white spots (eggs?) and 5-10 quick moving little insects with a tail sticking up, which look some similar to tiny little scorpions. 3 friends of mine have the same problem with their Benjamin Trees in their garden. They have been told by Dominicans, that this insects in this leaves are extreamly dangerous to humans, even life theadening, and that infected trees need to get cut down.
I really can't believe, that there is any truth in this fast spreading rumor. However, I must admit, I'm a little concerned, since we have children sometimes playing in the garden.
I did some research on the internet, but I havn't found a species, which looks like this and didn't come across helpful info so far.
Does anybody have or ever had the same problem with his Benjamin Tree? Does anybody know what kind of pest is it? Is it in any kind dangerous to humans? What is the best way to get rid of this insects? It might be difficult to kill them, since the pest lives surrounded by the curled up leave and is probably pretty good protected against toxid spray.
Thanks in advance for any kind of helpful info!