What Is Soft Scale - How To Recognize Soft Scale Insects

Soft scale is a flat, oval, pale yellow/brown insect. The pale covering of the insect is waxy and repels liquids. The adults reach up to 4mm long, the immature (nymph) stages are much smaller. It is found near the midribs of leaves and on stems.

How do you identify scale insects?

Identification: At first glance, many scale insects look like a small, circular bump that's part of the plant. Depending on the species, they vary in color from brown to cottony white and measure up to 1/4 inch long. Scale nymphs are known as crawlers and are similar in appearance.

What is soft scale insects?

Soft scale insects are relatively large sap-sucking insects, measuring a tenth to a quarter of an inch long (two to six millimeters), with a distinct protective covering firmly attached to their bodies. Some mimic their surroundings, others produce a waxy coating that can make them resemble fluffy insect casings.

What is soft scale?

Soft scales damage plants by extracting plant fluids from the phloem. This can reduce plant growth and cause leaf drop or branch dieback. The most common symptom of soft scale infestation is accumulation of honeydew and sooty mold on or beneath a plant.

What do Scale insects look like?

The scale bug is small, oval and flat, with a protective tan to brown shell-like covering (scale). Scale generally targets the undersides of leaves and around leaf joints. The scale plant insect consists of three types: armored scale.

How do you kill scale insects?

The safest effective way to control scale is with a horticultural oil spray. These insecticides contain oil in a form that will mix with water. When mixed and sprayed onto an infested plant, the oil coats the scale insects and clogs their breathing pores.

What is the life cycle of scale insect?

Scale insects have three distinct life stages (egg, immature, adult) and may complete several generations in a single year. Adult females produce eggs beneath the scale covering or in a cottony material, and in many cases spend the cold winter months in this stage.

Does dish soap kill scale?

Dawn liquid dish detergent in approximately a 2 percent concentration is a fairly safe alternative to commercial insecticidal soaps formulated to kill insects such as aphids, mites and scale on plants and keep them away.

How do you treat a soft scale?

The most effective coccid soft scale insect control is using neem oil. Neem oil will treat insects and fungal diseases. Systemic insecticides are also very effective against scale insects because they feed on the plant sap.

What does scale on plants look like?

Scale varies in color, shape, and size, but most often appears as small, brown, rounded lumps on your plant's leaves and stems. Two main groups exist: armored or hard scales; and unarmored or soft scales. The names refer to the shell-like coverings which protect the insect body.

What plants does scale attack?

Overview of scale insects

In Iowa, most species of shade trees, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks. Scale insects can weaken and even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of the plant is rare.

Which is the hardest insect?

The diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus) is found mainly in the US and Mexico, where it lives under the bark of trees or beneath rocks. The beetle has one of the toughest exoskeletons of any known insect.

How do you get rid of soft brown scale?

Insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils can control brown soft scale, but these will require multiple treatments to be effective. A systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) that is applied to the soil provides good control of brown soft scale on ornamental plants.

How did my plant get scale?

Scales spread from plant to plant as newly hatched crawlers, which are very tiny, have legs and can move around. Crawlers are fairly easily controlled with commonly available contact insecticides. Unfortunately, scale crawlers are hard to detect. Most gardeners never notice them and miss the opportunity for control.

How do I know if my plants have scales?

Scale almost always appears in clusters. Unlike other insects, they are immobile once they lock themselves into place to pierce the plant and begin feeding on sap. If you see clusters of tiny shell-like bumps on the stems or leaves of a plant, there is a good chance you are looking at a scale.

What does scale look like on succulents?

Scale. ... If you see small, brown bumps on your succulent, then you may have a scale problem. These insects like to eat the sap of succulents, damaging the plants and making them susceptible to diseases. Remedy: Remove any visible insects you see from your plant either by hand or by hosing them off.

Can I make my own insecticidal soap?

Fill a 1-gallon jug with water—either distilled or tap, as long as yours is not hard water (hard water reduces the effectiveness of insecticidal soap)—and leave a couple of inches at the top. Then add 2-½ tablespoons liquid dish soap (Dawn or liquid castile soap are good choices) and 2-½ tablespoons vegetable oil.

Do Scale insects live in the soil?

Do scale insects live in the soil of indoor plants? Yes, they may infest plant even indoors. Ants love them, so if your plant has attracted ants, check for these pests.

Can you spray plants with rubbing alcohol?

An alcohol spray is effective against mealy bugs, whiteflies, red spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, and scale. To make the spray, mix 1/2 to 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of water in a pump-spray bottle. It's a good idea to test spray one leaf of an infested plant and wait a day to check for damage.

Can neem oil kill scales?

Neem oil is a godsend. Not only does the oil coat plants, but it naturally contains azdirachtin, which will slowly poison most soft scales and mealybugs. You can use it on armored scales as well, but it will work like a horticultural oil in that usage.

How do you prevent scale on plants?

Control

To get rid of scale insects prune and dispose of infested branches, twigs and leaves.
When scale numbers are low they may be rubbed or picked off of plants by hand.
Dabbing individual pests with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab or neem-based leaf shine will also work when infestations are light.

Do ladybugs eat scale insects?

Like green lacewings, ladybug larvae are generalists, and will eat soft-bodied insects like aphids, scales, mealybugs, mites and more.