Learn how to identify and get rid of scale bugs Scale are sucking pests like mealy bugs, thrips, aphids and whitefly

Scale bugs are plant pests that attach themselves onto your plant leaves and stems in colonies They are most often soft bodied on houseplants They create visible mounds on leaves and stems armed with a piercing mouth piece that sucks the juice out of plant cells

The best eradication method is prevention When you purchase plants look for pests Quarantine all new plants for several weeks to a month; this ensures the life cycle of pests completes

Treat any new suspicious plants with neem oil soap to prevent a new pest population from forming in your home

Treating Scale on Indoor Plants Quarantine all infested plants Hard spray of water will dislodge soft bodied scale to some degree Soft bodied scale and immature forms can be killed with an insecticidal soap spray regime This needs to be repeated at least weekly to eradicate all the life stages of scale

Treating Scale on Outdoor Plants Heavily infested plants should be removed; treat surrounding plants as needed Scrape the scale from the plant or crush them Insecticidal soaps cannot penetrate hard scale armor, however, it is effective on juvenile scale Repeat spray often

Heavy infestations of scale bugs on plants are not usually worth the battle Best to dispose of the plant

To Dispose of an Infected Plant Take the whole plant and set it in an airtight garbage bag Seal the bagand throw it into the garbage outside Don't throw it into your compost pile or anywhere they can continue their life cycle Be sure to sterilize the home surfaces you and the plant came in contact with

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