Garden Pests and Diseases: White fuzzy 'thingies' on weeping fig., 1 by marsue

marsue wrote:
My cousin sent me the attached photo with the following comment. I don't know what the "thingies" are on her weeping fig. Can any of you ID this? Thanks for any help you can give me to pass along to her.


"Attached is a photo of leaves from my weeping fig which I've had for about 10 years. I keep it indoors. This plant has always had little white "thingies" on both the top and underside of the leaves and the leaves become sticky. I've often wondered if it is a type of small scale that has infested the plant or if this particular variety produces a sap that sticks to the leaves. Through the years, I've sprayed with detergent, water and alcohol; insecticide spray; and dormant oil but nothing seems to help. Overall the plant seems to be pretty healthy except for this malady."