Is this "scale"?
Hoping someone can help identify what is happening and how to remedy. We have 4 ficus bonsai tree's in our office and one of them have sap forming on the leaves and has these bumps on the branches. Attaching 3 pictures. Thanks!
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applestar
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Nope, those are definitely scale. The waxy brownish mottled bumps. The sticky residue/honeydew come from the scales feeding on foliage ABOVE and exuding -- essentialiy pee-img -- the excess moisture and sugar.
They are VERY good at pretending to be part of the plant. Scales won't necessarily come off with soap and water because the waxy body protects them. Using rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs (or get those alcohol wipes from the first aid kit and fold into a triangle) scrub the bumps to see them come off.
Minor infestation can be treated by just removing them this way and using soapy water to get at the more fragile juvies, but there will be adults of varying sizes and what I call "The Mother Ship" -- HUGE bump that you would swear are part of the plant structure
They are VERY good at pretending to be part of the plant. Scales won't necessarily come off with soap and water because the waxy body protects them. Using rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs (or get those alcohol wipes from the first aid kit and fold into a triangle) scrub the bumps to see them come off.
Minor infestation can be treated by just removing them this way and using soapy water to get at the more fragile juvies, but there will be adults of varying sizes and what I call "The Mother Ship" -- HUGE bump that you would swear are part of the plant structure
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GardeningCook
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- Location: Upper Piedmont area of Virginia, Zone 7a
Yup - that DOES look like Scale, & unfortunately Scale LOVES Ficus varieties.
The alcohol treatment as described by applestar is probably your best bet, but keep in mind that you'll probably have to repeat the treatment every couple of weeks for a couple of months to be sure you get every last one in order prevent them constantly reproducing. Insidious little things.
The alcohol treatment as described by applestar is probably your best bet, but keep in mind that you'll probably have to repeat the treatment every couple of weeks for a couple of months to be sure you get every last one in order prevent them constantly reproducing. Insidious little things.
Where there are scales, aphids, and mealy bugs, ants are probably nearby. Bait for the ants so the pests won't be carried back. Alcohol does work to remove them especially in the crawler stage. I have used a small soft brush like a toothbrush to rub them off and then hose off the plant well. Horticultural oil will work if the day temperature does not exceed 80 degrees and/or you can keep the plant out of the direct sun for a day. The oil smothers the scale. Dead scale will remain on the plant since they don't fall off. You may have to repeat the treatments a few times before you get them all.