Colonies of insects infest leaves, stems and fruit. You will notice
sticky honeydew, sooty
moulds and fouling of older foliage. Prolonged infestation
causes weakened growth.
Spot them
There are a number of scale insect species, most are 1-6 mm long
but vary in shape and colour. Scales or shell-like bumps are seen
on stems and under leaves. All species have a shell-like covering
over their bodies. The eggs are often laid under the protection of
this shell but with the cushion scales the eggs are deposited
outside the scale under a mass of white waxy fibres. The adults are
slow moving but the newly hatched nymphs crawl actively over the
plant surface and spread the infestation.
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