"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in message

Gently wash the leaves with ordinary soap -- not detergent -- then
rinse the plant under a shower of tepid water. Be sure to wash behind
its ears, so to speak: leave no surface untouched and be sure the suds
dribbles down into the crown.

Your creepy-crawlies sound like spider mites.

Thanks for that idea. I can believe 'spider mites' could be the right name
for them.
'Provado Ultimate Bug killer' apparently doesn't affect them.

I applied a 0.05% d-phenothrin / 0.25% tetramethrin fly spray to the leaves
this morning, and will spray wash the leaves with water later this
afternoon.

Maybe try soaping leaves next if no success.

Anthony.