A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 icky creepy crawly

I just got a weeping fig the other day. After potting it and watering it, I looked down at the soil and to my disgust saw an icky creepy crawly thing :p . I went to get something to pick it up with, but by the time I got back it was gone, presumably down into the soil.

I consulted my guidebook to houseplants, but it doesnt have this pest listed. It is about a half inch long, dark red-brown (almost black), and looks kinda grub-ish. Can anyone tell me what this is and how to deal with it??

Thanks

Sounds like a plain, garden-variety bug. It is unlikley to do any harm.

If your Ficus is not too big, plunge the pot up to its rim in a tub filled with water and leave it for 30-40 minutes. The flood will force the critter up and out in search of air.