Chemical labels explained
The labels on garden chemicals provide important information on when, where and how to use that product. Our handy guide helps you decipher this information so you can be sure to use them as safely as possible.
Quick facts
Common name - Oleander scale
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Scientific name - Aspidiotus nerii
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Plants affected - A variety of glasshouse plants
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Main symptoms - Whitish 2 mm diameter scale insects on leaves and stems
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Caused by - Sap sucking scale insects
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Timing - All year
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What is oleander scale?
Oleander scale is a sap sucking true bug that appears as a flat, oval, whitish-brown insects on leaves and stems of indoor plants. The whitish covering of the insect is waxy and repels liquids. The adults reach up to 2 mm long, the immature stages (crawlers) are much smaller. It does not produce honeydew and breeds throughout the year. It is one of several species of scale insects encountered by gardeners.
Scale insects are sap sucking true bugs belonging to several families in the Hemiptera. Typically the adults are immobile having a flattened or raised appearance, with no visible legs. They often look like a 鈥榮cale鈥� on a leaf or stem, many species produce a white wax often covering egg masses. There are more than 100 species found in Britain, 26 of which have been introduced. More than 25 species can be found in gardens or on houseplants.
Symptoms
Populations of oleander scale are characterised by encrustations of the 2 mm diameter scales on leaves and stems of glasshouse plants. Common host plants include Acacia, Asparagus plumosus, azalea (Rhododendron), Cyclamen, Dracaena, Nerium oleander (oleander) and palms . Heavily affected plants can lack vigour. It can appear similar to other diaspid scale insects.
Management
- Where possible tolerate populations of scale insects. Well-tended healthy plants are able to tolerate light populations of these insects, they are of little consequence and do not require management
- Adult scales and egg masses can be removed when seen but this may not reduce large populations
- It can be worth considering replacing heavily affected plants, although this is seldom a necessary measure
See also
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Category: AdviceCushion scale
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Category: AdviceHorse chestnut scale
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Category: AdviceJuniper scale
Small sap sucking juniper scale insects can encrust junipers (Juniperus species) and some other conifers such as cypresses (Cupressus and Chamaecyparis), Leyland cypress (x Cuprocyparis leylandii) and Thuja. -
Category: AdviceMealybug
Glasshouse mealybugs are common sap-feeding insects found on a wide range of houseplants and greenhouse plants. Mealybugs can weaken plants and excrete a sticky substance (honeydew) on foliage, which allows the growth of sooty moulds. -
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