10/14/2026
Harmful: Soft scales ...have an attached waxy coating and also come in a variety of colors, shapes (flat to spherical), and sizes (1/8 to 1/2 inch). They excrete a lot of honeydew, which attracts ants and is the medium for the growth of sooty mold. Scale eggs usually hatch within three weeks after they are laid.
Severe scale problems can be prevented by early detection and good cultural practices. Learn what scales look like and inspect plants often with a magnifying glass. Small infestations can be pruned off and destroyed.
Provide good air flow and do not overfertilize.
Scale populations are controlled naturally by predators such as ladybird beetles and lacewings as well as parasitic wasps. If beneficial insects are present, consider letting them them do their jobs before you apply use a pesticide.
Finish our stateโs website article on web archives https://web.archive.org/web/20251017142400/http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/monroeco/2009/09/22/scale-insects/
All Scales https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ch195