Scale Insects on House Plants
Scale Insects on House Plants
Scale insects can be hard to control on house plants. The insects are usually under a brown, hard shell that is adpressed to the stem. Sometimes the symptom noticed first is a sticky coating on the leaves and even on the furniture or floor beneath the plant. The sticky coating is honeydew excreted by the scale insects. A black fungus called sooty mold may grow on the honeydew. Sprays are not effective in controlling mature scales. A systemic insecticide if most effective.