How To Treat Scale Insect Pest

Scales are tiny insects that are common pests to both outdoor and indoor plants, there are generally two types of scales, soft scales and armored scales. Scales can be found in great masses in a fixed or unmovable position on garden plants. These insects are sucking insects and extract the sap from the plant.

Scales can also be found on nursery-grown plants, these insects are widespread, and their excrement or waste is sugary attracting ants that use the scale’s by-product as a food source. It’s been discovered that ants will maneuver another sucking insect (aphid) through garden areas so they can feed on the plant’s sap and in turn ants will use the excrement of aphids for food because of the aphid’s feces that is sugary so if there is a heavy population of ants on your garden plants may be a clear indication of a sucking insect including scales.

The excrement of scales can also cause garden plants to be covered with a black substance known as sooty mold that grows on plants. Sooty mold causes the plant to look sickly.

Also, sooty mold can interfere with the way plants manufacture their food in the process we know as photosynthesis, the adults remain stationary while the nymphs move about actively over the plant surface feeding and causing damage to plant life.

Signs of Scale infestation

If your outdoor or indoor plants are showing these symptoms may be a sign that you have a scale insect pests issue.

• Physically seeing tiny insects that are from 1/16 to 3/8 in size, they resemble bumps on plants, scale insects grow beneath a wax covering that resembles fish scale. They remain in a fixed position or state on garden plants feeding.
• Plants have a sticky substance that is known as honeydew, this is the excrement of scales from sucking the plant’s sap.
• Under heavy infestation, outdoor plants develop a black or dusty coating known as sooty mold, sooty mold develops from the sugary substance or excrement of scales.
• Plants develop yellow-mottled leaves.
• Plant leaves turn brown followed by leaf drop.
• Because of leaf drop the canopy begins to thin.
• There is the presence of branch dieback.

How to Control Scale Insects Outdoors

There are several ways to control scales in an outdoor garden setting.

• If garden or container plants are small to medium size and if the infestation is not that many then simply wiping the scales off with a damp cloth will bring control. You may have to apply a little pressure to remove the scales completely. Remember not to apply too much pressure because you don’t want to damage or break immature branches, stems, or leaves.
• For indoor plants, a cloth dipped in soapy water rung out and then proceed to remove insects.
• Insecticides such as horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap can be used, before using insecticides read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results.
• Heavily infested branches can be removed with a hand pruner.
• Encourage natural predators into your garden to control scales, some of these insects are ladybugs, parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, lacewings, etc…

How to Control Scale Insect Indoors

There are several ways to control scales on indoor plants.

• A  clean cloth soaked in water and soap, ring the towel out then proceed to wipe scales from plants.
• Insecticides that can be used for scale control are neem oil, horticultural oil, or insecticidal soap treatment. Before insecticide applications read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results.
• If the infestation is large then prune the infected part and dispose of it immediately.

How to Discourage Scale Insects from Your Garden

Even in the best-kept garden issues still may arise but the good news is there are a few things we can do to at least minimize the presence of scales and other garden pests. Keeping your garden plants healthy will give them a fighting chance against insect pests.

• Install your plant in the right location, and provide the amount of lighting that is required.
• Give your plants the right amount of water, no more no less.
• Ensure that plants are installed in the right soil type.
• Treat all infested plants right away so that the infestation doesn’t spread to healthy plants.
• Before bringing new plants home do a thorough inspection to ensure that plants are not only disease-free but there are no insects including scales hitchhiking.
• Keep an eye out for scales and other insect pests by doing a regular inspection of your plants.
•  Plants that show disease symptoms should be treated right away or disposed of if the disease is too server to revive plants.

Conclusion

Scales are common garden pests that can cause injury both to indoor as well as outdoor plants, the good news is the scale population can be reduced where there is no longer a threat to plant life. This guide has covered the steps in scale insect pest control.  If you have a scale insect infestation then contact us and let us help you put a plant in place, these proven methods have worked over and over again, don’t allow scales to infect your garden plants or rob you of a good harvest.