How to Kill Scaled Insects

Diagnosing an Infestation

• 1

  Inspect your plants thoroughly; plants that have yellow leaves, or leaves spotted with yellow are areas where the scales have been sucking the leaves. There may be leaves dying altogether or dead leaves lying around the plant. A black fungus may also be evident or little fuzzy white spots.

• 2

  Examine the plant for evidence of scales. Mealybugs are the easiest to spot. They look like little white sowbugs with a fuzzy coat. They can be seen on the leaves and stems of plants. Armored and soft scales can also be seen; but these are darker, tending to blend in more.

• 3

  Wrap double-sided tape on the bottom 1/3 of a Popsicle stick.

• 4

  Push the taped Popsicle stick down into the soil around the plant for several seconds, then pull it back out.

• 5

  Inspect the tape and look for insect activity. The babies are the hardest to spot; and may need further examination with a magnifying glass.

Rubbing Alcohol Scale Extermination

• 6

  Pour some isopropyl, or rubbing alcohol into a small, shallow bowl or cup.

• 7

  Dip one end of a cotton swab into the alcohol.

• 8

  Touch the alcohol soaked cotton swab to the scales that can be seen on the leaves and stems of the plant. With mealybugs, it will be obvious they are dying when touched with alcohol. They will turn a shade of tan and will stop moving.

• 9

  Remove the dead scales from the plant with gauze, paper towel or tissue, by rubbing the leaves and stems of the plant.

Homemade Soapy Water Scale Control

• 10

  Mix 1.5 teaspoons of bleach-free dish soap in a plastic spray bottle with one quart of water.

• 11

  Mix the water, and soap together in the plastic spray bottle.

• 12

  Spray affected plants; soil included, liberally with the water and soap mixture.

• 13

  Spray plants every 5 to 7 days as needed, to eliminate and control infestation.

Homemade Oil Control

• 14

  Mix 2 tablespoons of any cooking oil with 2 tablespoons of any baby shampoo in one gallon of water. An old milk jug works well for this.

• 15

  Add 1-cup of rubbing alcohol to the mixture to ensure penetration of the shell of the scale.

• 16

  Mix the contents the of gallon jug thoroughly, then pour enough into a plastic spray bottle to fill it, setting the gallon jug in a safe place for later use.

• 17

  Shake the spray bottle and coat the back and front sides of the leaves and stems with the mixture.

• 18

  Apply to your plants every 5 to 7 days, until the infestation, is under control and no scales are evident.

Removal of Scale Caused Fungus

• 19

  Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the gallon jug mixture of baby shampoo, cooking oil, water and alcohol.

• 20

  Fill a water spray bottle and spray a leaf covered in fungus with the mixture, waiting three days to ensure there is no damage; meaning in three days check that the leaf has not died, and all of the fungus has been eliminated.

• 21

  Spray all parts of the leaves, stem and soil of the plant, repeating every 5 to 7 days as needed, to remove fungus.