Bug identification

[NumberOneGrasshopper]

Any idea what’s these little specks are on the leaves? It’s taking over and the leaves are losing their rich green color.
Shall I spray with a pesticide or a soapy water?

 

[hemmy]

It could be scale. Most soaps and sprays won’t get at the armored insect underneath. I would take wet paper towel or cloth and wipe them off both sides of the leaves. Then you can spray with insect soaps to kill any of the small crawlers.

 

[hemmy]

For reoccurring scale, I liked Dinotefuran granules that were systemic and would be taken up by the plant when it was actively growing. I can’t find it anymore in the US (except for Safari brand $$$). Imidacloprid seems to work also for ficus.