SCALE on my cephs!

[Jefforever]

I was wondering why my 2 year old cephalotus looks all shrived up, and now I've found scale insects on it!

What should I do? Is there some sort of stuff I can spray on the plant?

I'm a little worried about using certain chemicals - I wouldn't want to damage the plant!

Thanks for any tips!

 

[Wolfn]

What does the scale look like? I have little white crusty things on my Cephalotus.

 

[Jefforever]

You know how limpets look? The variety of scale I'm dealing with looks just like these (the white ones near the middle of the page):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpet , only very small.

They're sucking all the juices out of my ceph!

 

[SirKristoff]

Ortho Orthenex should work...its a Systemic pesticide, just use a light spray on it ever week. you might get a better option from someone else however.

 

[Not a Number]

http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114592

Identify the species from the UCD link in above thread. Scrape off as many of the adults as you can, use Neem oil to get rid of the crawlers. Repeat as per life cycle of species to kill any hatchlings. Neem oil should kill the eggs too but just in case.

 

[Jefforever]

Thanks for the replies!

I've sprayed pyrethrin(sp?) on the whole plant and I picked off the scales I could see.

I suppose I'll check some where for neem oil... can you recommend a brand? Thanks.

 

[Not a Number]

I'm just using the Schultz's Garden Safe brand 3-in-1. Home Depot etc. carries it.

No ill effects whatsoever so far on my Cephalotus.

Drown the scraped of adults in alcohol. Then drown your worries in alcohol