nurtomi

Scale insects

Small fixed bumps on stems or leaves can be scale.

Scale insects on a snake plant leaf.
Scale insects on a snake plant leaf. Photo: Mokkie · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Scale insects can look like brown, gray or white shells attached to the plant. Inspect stems and the undersides of leaves; some types produce sticky honeydew, while natural leaf bumps do not necessarily indicate pests.

What to do

Separate the plant and remove a few insects gently by hand. Clean tools and check hidden joints and neighboring plants. Revisit the plant because young crawlers can appear after the adults are removed.

Sources