Information on these serious pests of ornamentals, their biology and behavior and the sooty mould they can cause, the detection of infestations and their control by cultural, biological and chemical methods. Scale insects are the most serious pests of many ornamental plants. There are 13 families of scales in Florida, the most common being armored scales, soft scales, and mealybugs. Scales cause damage by sucking plant fluids from leaves, stems, and sometimes roots. Some species feed on the underside of leaves, which can appear as stippling small yellow spots or chlorotic lesions. Heavily infested plants look unhealthy and produce little new growth. Heavy infestations can cause extensive leaf yellowing, premature leaf drop defoliation, branch dieback, and plant death.

Address: PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.
Website: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG005