These damaging insects may also infest other houseplants, so it is important to manage the problem and prevent their spread. Some species of scale can also look like white bumps. “Sap” dripping from a ficus houseplant, which is actually honeydew from an Adult scales are black and to the left; immature scales are beige and to the right. This is a good description of scale insects on indoor ficus (Ficus benjamina, F. retusa, F. indica, etc.). Scale insects can look hemispherical, oval, or flat, and they can ruin a plant and stunt its growth by sucking out the sap. Q. Actual size 5mm. I’ve seen scale on citrus trees, myoporums, different ficus’ both … Soft brown scale occurs on ficus, scheffleras and other indoor plants. The size of scale … Ficus Scale insects Large brown bumps on Ficus indicate an insect problem on Weeping Figs. The rubbing alcohol is very effective not only for scale but for the white insects that attack the leaves leaving a sticky residue behind. A healthy ficus tree will not see these problems, but a stressed ficus tree (likely losing leaves) will surely develop a pest problem quickly. Fern scale appears as white dashes on the fronds. So if your ficus is dripping a sticky substance best to hose it off every week for two weeks according to nurseries for the small insects and alcohol for scale. Since the ficus benjamina is a little finicky what is the best way to get rid of the scale. The honeydew accumulates on the foliage and can cause it to look shiny and feel sticky. Scale looks like little bumps on your plant and is commonly found on the branches, stems, the undersides of the leaves and also on the fruit. The hard scale lives and feeds under this spherical armor and does not move about the plant. Soft – Secrete a waxy film (up to 1/2 inch long) that is part of the body. In most cases, they are able to move short distances (but rarely do) and produce copious amounts of honeydew. Depending on the species, scale insects may be found on plant stems, twigs, trunks, foliage, or fruit. If left untreated, scale can stunt your plant’s growth and eventually kill it. Ficus are also prone to pests such as mealybugs, scale and spider mites. We have a five-year-old Ficus plant that has sentimental value to my wife since it belonged to her mother. Most scale insects are small and inconspicuous. How to Treat Scale on Fiddle Leaf Figs. They do not secrete honeydew. The most common pests on ficus are scale, which look like waxy, fish-scale-type masses stuck to the stems or leaves, and aphids, which are tiny, soft-bodied pear-shaped insects. We have examined the leaves carefully and can't see any scale but I'm sure that's what it is. Scales on a ficus. There are many others. Hard scale can be brown, white, tan, reddish or black. This past summer we noticed what we think are scale insects forming on … Scale is far easier to treat if the infestation is light. 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