The white is the bug and the black is their poop and that is the NASTIEST scale infestation I have ever seen

. Neem will work both mechanically and chemically on scale; do not hesitate, do it soon (early moring or late afternoon or a cloudy day, as oils can burn in combination with hot sun).
And I'd like to see follow ups pics in a week, please. We'll see where you stand then and go from there. Yikes!
By the way, are there ants climbing to the black spots?
HG