Scale insects can cause major damage to houseplants if you don't act in time. An infestation manifests itself in specific symptoms that you should definitely be aware of. So that you can find the cause as quickly as possible and take action against the pests, we will explain all the basic facts about scale insects in this article.
How do I effectively remove scale insects from houseplants?
To combat scale insects on houseplants, you can remove the pests manually, use a homemade spray made from soap and alcohol or use natural predators such as lacewings, gall midges or parasitic wasps.
Identifying scale insects
Scale insects come in different types. The pest has the Latin name Coccoidea and is widespread throughout Central Europe. The animals have the following properties:
- Body size from 0.8 to 6 mm
- equipped with a stinging proboscis
- mainly located on the undersides of the leaves
- living in colonies
- mostly only the females show their recognition
Note: Did you know that the females, which are up to 6 mm in size, are immobile? Only the larvae are capable of moving. Male scale insects fare even worse: they cannot eat and die after a few days. Their mission in life is to fertilize the females.
Causes of scale insect infestation
Scale insects primarily attack weakened plants. Houseplants are particularly affected because one-sided care measures are taken in closed rooms. In the garden, conditions fluctuate due to the weather and make it difficult for pests to adapt. The following care errors promote the occurrence:
- Water shortage
- Nutrient Deficiency
- Waterlogging
- Overfertilization
- low humidity
- too little light
Treatment measures
Chemistry isn't your thing? We applaud that! Instead, you should rely on the following home remedies, which are just as promising when used multiple times:
Collect
In the early stages, the scale insects can be collected manually or brushed off with a brush. Please note, however, that usually only the females appear. The larvae, on the other hand, stay in the substrate, which is why a new generation can always occur.
curd soap
Make your own organic spray from natural home remedies. Curd soap is suitable for this:
- 15 ml curd soap
- and 15 ml spirit
- dissolve in 1 liter of water
- fill into a spray bottle (€27.00 on Amazon)
- spray on the leaves
Beneficial insects
Beneficial insects such as lacewings, gall midges or parasitic wasps are natural predators of scale insects. They are available commercially in small bags and are applied to the houseplant. Depending on the type of beneficial insect, you should adapt the location conditions according to its needs. The animals do not harm the plant or your he alth. Once all the scale insects have been destroyed, they die a natural death.
