This pest is kind of beautiful but also terrible. What is it? Any tips for how to get rid of it, besides cleaning all the leaves?

  • kabi@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    As others have said, it’s some type of scale insect. A telltale sign is that they are mostly arranged on the middle line of the leaves, where, I imagine, it’s easiest to hook into the plant’s nutrients.

    First thing to do is get it as far away as possible from any other plants you hold dear. Until it’s sorted out, avoid cross contamination via your hands and tools as well. After that, you’ll have to find some type of poison to kill them. Scales can be very resistant to external methods, something that is delivered via the plant’s juices that they feed on might be easiest. Or you could spend weeks diligently rubbing the leaves and stems with alcohol to rid of them, to possibly no avail.

    (I am not very fond of scales.)

    • KurtVonnegut@mander.xyzOPEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Thanks. And yes, I am also starting to be less and less fond of these creatures. Any idea how these little assholes got to my house in the first place? Wind?

      • kemsat@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        2 years ago

        Not specifically, but there’s tons of spores & microbe “eggs” in the air. That’s how we can make a yeast starter by just leaving water & flour out for a few days, it’s literally just in the air, and you’re breathing it in right now as you read this.

  • Mickey@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    They look like a sort of mealy bug to me. Spray isopropyl alcohol on them and if they turn red then definitely mealy bugs.

    Get a cotton swab, spray it all down with alcohol and wipe them away and that should clear them up! Luckily they are pretty large and easy to see (at least more than other pests).

        • Billegh@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          2 years ago

          To be fair, alcohol is organic. There’s carbon in it (meeting most scientific uses of “organic”), and its production doesn’t have to include nasty pesticides (meeting most legal uses of “organic”). As things that kill bugs go, it’s marvellously safe to use.

  • leauxhigh@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    few drops of dish soap in water applied to the leaves will help this scale get evicted. you can spray it or apply it with a soft brush.

    • flughoernchen@feddit.orgEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Relevant part

      Stellate scale is also a known pest of Schefflera plants. Wash foliage with warm soapy water, try not to get any in the pot. You may have to treat multiple times. Imdacloprid (Bonide Systemic) should also be effective as it’s considered a soft bodied scale.