The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are over 7,000 species of scale insect.

Scale insects are all parasites of plants, feeding on sap drawn directly from the plant's vascular system. Adult scales are immobile and permanently attached to the plant they have parasitized. They secrete a waxy coating for defense; this coating causes them to resemble reptilian scales, hence the name.

Scale insects feed on a wide variety of plants, and the majority of scale species are considered pests. Some types are economically valuable, such as the cochineal and lac scales. Scale insects' waxy covering makes them quite resistant to pesticides, which are only effective against the juvenile crawler stage. However, scale can be controlled with horticultural oil, which suffocates them, or through biological controls. Soapy water is also reported to be effective against infestations of houseplants.

Female scale insects, unusually for hemiptera, retain their larval form at sexual maturity. Adult males have wings but never feed and die within a day or two. The specifics of their reproductive systems vary considerably within the group, including hermaphroditism and seven forms of parthenogenesis.

When you say small, how small are we talking and I've never heard of horticultural oil could some one please just let me know what this is and if possible where I can buy it.

Scale insects are usually between 1 mm and 6 mm so in answer to your question I would say that you should be able to see them

I believe I have the "scale insect" on my bonsai - I'm a beginner grower and have had my indoor fig for a few months. There are brown spots all over the brances and some leaves. With a magnifying glass, I found a larvae inside the scale and something eating the empty scales :( . The leaves are covered in the waxy secretions. Soapy water was mentioned, do I spray it on? How do you "wash" the tree? How is the horto oil applied? Thanks in advance for any help!

Yes, you spray the soapy solution on. Before you do that physically pick/scrape off any scale you see. It usually takes 3 or more applications over time to get them all. I just battled with them on a mini-jade and won, but it took about 2 weeks.

SCALE is quite the bugger. We get it here on almost everything in SWFL. I fight it off everything from hibiscuses to gardenias. I use this NEEMoil solution. Stinky but effective.


~LCA.

Hello,
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.
Most scale insects are parasites of plants, feeding on sap drawn directly from the plant's vascular system. A few species feed on fungal mats and fungi, e.g., some species in the genus Newsteadia in the family Ortheziidae.
Scale insects feed on a wide variety of plants, and many scale species are considered pests. Some types are economically valuable, such as the cochineal, Polish cochineal and lac scales. Scale insects' waxy covering makes them quite resistant to pesticides, which are only effective against the first-instar nymph crawler stage. However, scales are often controlled with horticultural oils, which suffocates them, or through biological control. Soapy water is also reported to be effective against infestations on houseplants.
Female scale insects, unusually for Hemiptera, retain the immature external morphology at sexual maturity (neoteny). Adult males have wings but never feed and die within a day or two.

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Thanks.