Scale Insect Control: How To Get Rid of Scales on Plants

This page is a Scale Insect control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of scale insects on plants. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of scale insects.

There are many insect pests that will feed on and damage our plants, but some that often goes unnoticed are scale insects. Scale insects are small pests that usually fly under the radar of most homeowners and gardeners until their damage is apparent.

Scale insects on plants can actually kill or stunt the growth of plants, cause black mold to form on leaves, or even attract activity from other pests, like ants or wasps. Scale may be tiny, but if left untreated they can become a huge problem for healthy plants.

If you have noticed scale insects damaging your plants, you will need to act fast to eliminate the infestation. Follow our DIY treatment guide below to learn more about this plant-feeding pest and how to best clear them from your garden using our effective, professional-grade products.

Identification

The first part of any pest control plan is identifying what exactly you are dealing with. Without knowing which pest may be harming your plants, you will not be able to determine the best treatment strategy to use.

• Scale insects are small, round or elliptical insects that vary in size, but are generally between 1/16 to 3/8 of an inch in length.
• Scales can be divided into two groups: armored scales and soft scales, such as mealybugs.
• Armored scales have their own protective, scaly coating.
• Soft scales produce a waxy shell and honeydew. Honeydew is a sugary waste material that can attract other pests, like and or wasps.
• Honeydew left behind by soft scales that goes unconsumed will eventually rot and invites a black fungus called sooty mold to overtake plant leaves.
• Female and male scale insects differ greatly in appearance. With most infestations, you are likely dealing with female scales as seeing a male scale is very rare.
• Female scale insects resemble fish scales (hence their name) growing along a plant leaf. They have no legs and cannot crawl.
• Male scale insects look like tiny flies with functional wings and two tail filaments.
• Depending on the species, scale insects will go through one or two generations per year. As young scale insects, they are able to crawl around the leaf surface until they mature.

Inspection

Inspection is the next step in a treatment program. Once you know what your potential pest looks like, you will want to inspect your plants for signs of activity.

Where To Inspect

Depending on the species, scales will feed on trees, shrubs, or even house plants. On herbaceous plants, you can often find scales settling along stems or leaf veins since those are the biggest sources of moisture on the plant. You can also find scales on fruits or underneath bark.

What To Look For

Be on the lookout for common signs of scale infestation on plants. This will include yellow, dying leaves, honeydew drippings, sooty mold from rotting honeydew, warped or stunted plant growth, and even the scale insects themselves. Some types of scales, like mealybugs, will produce a cotton-like webbing which will make them easier to spot.

Treatment

Once you have identified scale insects on your plants, it is time start treatment. Before starting any treatment, be sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and keep all people and pets off and away from the treated areas until dry.

To effectively get rid of scale insects in large areas, use Dominion 2L. Dominion 2L is a systemic insecticide, meaning it will get absorbed into treated plants and translocate through the plant tussue. This will effectively kill any insect pest that will feed on the treated plant, while keeping your plant safe.

Dominion 2L is recommended for treating larger plants and landscape ornamentals. We suggest you use a hose end sprayer to easily make large volume applications.

Keep in mind that using Dominion 2L is recommended for treating larger plants and ornamentals. For small application to indoor, potted plants you may want to use an small, alcohol solution with a spray bottle.

Step 1 - Determine How Much Dominion 2L You Will Need

Determine how much Dominion 2L you will need by calculating the square footage of the treatment area for treating flowers and ground cover. To do this, measure and multiply the treatment area length times the width (length x width = square footage).

Dominion 2L will need to be applied at a rate of 0.4 to 0.6 fluid ounces per 1,000 square feet with at least 10 gallons of water. For example, if you had measured a 1,500 sq. ft. area for treatment, you would need to apply 0.6 to 0.9 fl. oz. of Dominion 2L in at least 20 gallons of water.

For treating trees and shrubs you will need to measure the area differently. For trees, you will need to measure the diameter of the tree trunk in inches and apply Dominion 2L at a rate of 0.1 to 0.4 fl. oz. per inch of trunk diameter with at least 10 gallons of water. For shrubs, you will need to apply Dominion 2L at a rate of 0.1 to 0.2 fl. oz. per foot of shrub height.

Step 2 - Apply Dominion 2L to Plants

The easiest and most effective way to apply Dominion 2L for scale control is to apply in a high volume around the base of the plant so that it can effectively reach the plant's root zone.

Apply Dominion 2L uniformly as a drench around the base of the plant with at least 10 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet (this is why it is recommended to use a hose end sprayer.) Focus on getting the pesticide solution down to where the plant's roots reside.

With that in mind, be sure to remove any kind of netting, plastic, or any other kind of barrier they may hinder the pesticide from reaching the roots.

For flowers and ground cover, you will want to apply in a similar fashion, evenly broadcasting the solution on and around the plants. It is recommended that you water the area after application to further drive the Dominion 2L solution down to the plant's root zone. 

Keep in mind that Dominion 2L is extremely effective against scale insects and other plant-feeding insects, which means it is harmful to bees. Do mot apply Dominion 2L when your plants are flowering to avoid the risk of harming any pollinators.

Step 3 - Treating Scale on Houseplants

When it comes to getting rid of scale on houseplants, it may be best to perform a spot treatment using a trigger sprayer. An easy at-home remedy for scale is to use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol.) Spray the scales directly with the alcohol to kill thenm 

While rubbing alcohol generally tends to be safe for houseplants, it is always a good idea to spray a small test area to gauge your plant's sensitivity. Do this for a couple days and look for any adverse effects like leaf burning or yellowing.

Prevention

Prevention is essential in making sure that your pest problem does not return or manifest in the first place.

To prevent damage from scales, it is best to be diligent in monitoring your plants, check for scale activity, and spraying your plants when necessary. Keep an eye on the health of your plants, and if something does not seem right get to the root of the issue.

If you find scales on houseplants, be sure to isolate it from other plants to contain the scale population until it is eliminated. Outdoors, you can attract benefical insects, like ladybugs, by growing certain plants in your garden that those insects love. Ladybugs are natural predators to scale insects and other plant-feeding insect pests, like aphids, so use them as a natural deterrent.

Finally, make sure to conduct re-applications of Dominion 2L quarterly as it will remain effective for up to 90 days.

Key Takeaways

What Are Scale Insects?

• Scales are small plant-damaging insects that will damage a variety of garden plants.
• Scale insects are either armored or soft and will give your plant a scaly appearance as the infestation grows. 
• Scales are very common plant pest in gardens, greenhouses, landscape ornamentals, fruit trees, and house plants. They are typically found in warmer, moist climates.

How To Get Rid of Scale on Plants

• We recommend using Dominion 2L because it is a powerful systemic insecticide with a broad label.
• Apply Dominion 2L uniformly as a drench around the base of the plant with at least 10 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet using a hose end sprayer. Focus on getting the pesticide solution down to where the plant's roots reside.
• For indoor plants, use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol.) Spray the scales directly with the alcohol to kill them. 

Preventing Scale Insect Reinfestation

• After successful control, a preventative application of Dominion 2L will protect your plants from possible scale reinfestations.