Scale insect infestation
Watch this postDoes anyone have a suggestion on how to get rid of pesky scale insects? I have a beautiful tropical Murraya Koenigii ( curry leaf tree) and found to my horror, it is covered in sticky dew and scale. Ordinary soapy liquid spray does'nt seem to work. Heeelp meeee!
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Just in case there are others out there who have the same problem...
After wading through Youtube videos on scale insects, they all seem to like the use of Neem oil mixed with dishsoap and water. Sprayed on the little pests at regular intervals, it should potentially solve the problem.
Since scale insects develop a hard shell, ordinary dishsoap won't affect them, so the Neem oil covers their shell and suffocates them. Going online to fine Neem oil now.
Thank goodness for Google and Youtube tutorials.
but in exasperation I cut my precious curry leaf plant down to the barest minimum, treated with a spray of soapy water with a dash of baby oil in it. Also changed the soil and pot, so fingers very crossed, the little tree will put out new shoots soon.
The oil is really for the adult scale, the shell is so hard that ordinary soap and water just washes over it, adding the oil makes a film on their shells and they can't breathe so just die.
Sounds horrible, but the little pests have plagued this particular plant at regular intervals.
No benteemy, since my plant is a tropical plant, it is in the dry indoor atmosphere during the cold season, I have put it outside now that it is milder, in the midst of the lavender, hoping other pest will stay away.
I did discover that ladybirds like scale insects and am praying for a host of them to arrive.
This plant is like a baby to me, I use the leaves to add to my delicious curries, so quite heartbreaking when the dreaded scale takes hold. 🙁