Though scale insects themselves are typically more unsightly than harmful, their presence can cause black mold growth and other detrimental side effects to your plants. For this reason it’s essential to know how to identify them and more importantly, how to prevent them from making a home on your plant leaves. Here’s a quick guide to help you detect and prevent potential damage caused by scale insects:
What do scale insects look like? These tiny pests can be less than 1/10th of an inch in diameter and can be hard to spot. Females are oval in shape and wingless, while males have a pair of wings but are usually not seen due to their short lifespan. They are usually found stuck on bark, fruit and plant leaves.
Why should I worry? Scale insects feed on the plants in your garden so leaving an infestation unattended can cause your plant leaves to yellow and die. Armored scale insects are characteristic of a hard covering, expanding as the feed and grow, while soft scale insects lack armor but produce honeydew which is excreted onto your plants. This honeydew is sweet smelling and attracts ants, wasps and other harmful insects. It is also a source for mold growth that can be very harmful to your garden.
How can I prevent scale insects from taking over? Luckily nature will do your bidding most of the time when it comes to these tiny pests. Beneficial garden bugs and birds will usually take care of riding your plants of scale insects, but sometimes intervention is necessary. Horticultural oil sprays and pruning infected branches should do the trick!
At Pest Control Unlimited, we take pride in our successful pest prevention methods and knowledgeable professional staff. If you live in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or the surrounding areas, and have a pest problem that’s threatening to ruin your gorgeous garden call us at 888-649-9919 right away! We’ll set you up with a free on-site estimate, and figure out a solution to help your landscape flourish all season long.
