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Scale Insect
Son of Sap

Description:

Various small homopterous insects of the superfamily Coccoidea that suck the juices of plants and the females of which secrete and remain under waxy scales on plant tissue. 

Scale insects are circular in shape and sticky to the touch.  They range in colour from white to brown to black.

A brown variant of Scale insect in the rosette of Tacitus bella.

 

 

The white scale that appears on Aloes and Euphorbias form a white coloration on the outer leaves.  The infestation unsually begins at the base of the leaves and then spread up towards the tip.  These pests, if left unchecked, will destroy the plant and it may spread viral infections from one plant to the other, these viral infections usually will kill the plant.

White scale on Aloe framesii, fatal if not treated.

Treatment:

Environmentally freindly:

• The white scale on Aloes and Euphorbias can be washed off using a strong jet of water, brush any remaining off with a soft bristled broom.

• Cover insect with petroleum jelly, wipe the petroleum jelly and bug off the next day.  This method is good for small infestations.

• Ladybugs are scale insects natural predator, introduce them into your greenhouse.

Chemical:

• Oleum - 100ml/10l

• For white scale on Aloes and Euphorbias use Oleum 100ml/10l water, repeated fortnightly until pests are dead. Remove dead scale insects with soft brush or broom.