Chaemaerops infestation

[Manalto]

I was working outside on this mild Monday afternoon and noticed this on my Mediterranean fan palm.

Is it scale? What treatment do you recommend?

[oasis371]

When you rub them with your fingernail, do they come off? Scale will.  The white marks do not look like scale to me but not sure about the dark marks.

[DAVEinMB]

@Manalto that looks like what i have on the majority of my plants, identified as scale. I was told for scale a soil drench is pretty much the go to. I got mine from domyown.com - centerfire 75 wsp, 27 bucks shipped. Can't report back on results yet though 

[BeyondTheGarden]

If that's scale, it's different in appearance from the scale I consistently get on my indoor Ravenaea.   Insecticidal soap is my go-to, seems to be more effective than neem oil.  But you'll want to be careful not to get soap into the soil at the feet of the palm.  For invasions like that I normally spray soap, let it sit a few minutes, then hose it off with the garden hose with the spray nozzle set to one of the high-pressure jet or fan patterns. 

[DAVEinMB]

Alright, well I'm invested because now I'd like to know what the hell is actually on my plants lol

[oasis371]

If it's scale, they can be removed with a fingernail. Do that for identification purposes first. Check also the underside of the leaves.

Dave, post of pic of your plant.

Edited February 21, 2022 by oasis371

[DAVEinMB]

@Manalto @oasis371 ok sorry, i checked my post regarding my infestation and what was identified as scale is different than this. However, my palms also have this on them so still invested haha

[ColumbusPalm]

I had this on my Waggie last year. It is false oleander scale. I did insecticidal soap and a 50/50 water and alcohol mix to get rid of it. Did them about 2 weeks apart. 

[Manalto]

Thanks, Nate. University of Florida has this entry for Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/scales/false_oleander_scale.htm

Thanks also for the control advice; I'll follow up. I called my palm-grower buddy here in Mobile and was told to spray Malathion and horticultural oil. I'm reluctant to spray such a toxic pesticide because of the wildlife (although the Chamaerops hasn't bloomed yet) because I grow food plants nearby, and on principle (take the least-toxic measures possible).  I was told that if I have banana shrub (Magnolia figo) there will probably be scale there, too. Sure 'nuff there were.

Edited February 22, 2022 by Manalto

[ColumbusPalm]

19 minutes ago, Manalto said:

Thanks, Nate. University of Florida has this entry for Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/scales/false_oleander_scale.htm

Thanks also for the control advice; I'll follow up. I called my palm-grower buddy here in Mobile and was told to spray Malathion and horticultural oil. I'm reluctant to spray such a toxic pesticide because of the wildlife (although the Chamaerops hasn't bloomed yet) because I grow food plants nearby, and on principle (take the least-toxic measures possible).  I was told that if I have banana shrub (Magnolia figo) there will probably be scale there, too. Sure 'nuff there were.

No problem! Everything I read highlighted how it is an increasing issue amongst many different plants. I had a different type of scale on my potted fortunei and someone recommended the 50/50 rubbing alcohol and water mix and that seemed to kick their butt. Then did it on the Waggie and rubbed down the fronds and haven't seen them since.  Hopefully they won't reemerge in the spring. I don't blame you for the harsh chemicals. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by ColumbusPalm

[Dartolution]

On 2/21/2022 at 6:07 PM, Manalto said:

Thanks, Nate. University of Florida has this entry for Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/scales/false_oleander_scale.htm

Thanks also for the control advice; I'll follow up. I called my palm-grower buddy here in Mobile and was told to spray Malathion and horticultural oil. I'm reluctant to spray such a toxic pesticide because of the wildlife (although the Chamaerops hasn't bloomed yet) because I grow food plants nearby, and on principle (take the least-toxic measures possible).  I was told that if I have banana shrub (Magnolia figo) there will probably be scale there, too. Sure 'nuff there were.

@Manalto That was exactly what I was about to reply. Its definitely false oleander. Its a somewhat common pest here. I've had a small bout of it, but it seems to go away with continued sprays of neem oil and peppermint castile soap, and for my tiny Serenoa i used a little Ortho home defense (severe infestation at first - palm was a rescue) ... seemed to work. I haven't seem them in months. 

Glad to see Im not the only one here conscious of environmental toxicity and the dangers of using pesticides. 

I mix 1 oz cold pressed 100% neem oil with 2oz of peppermint or eucalyptus castle soap in a small cup or bowl until viscus and mixed thoroughly. I then add this to 1 gallon of very warm water and spray. Repeated applications at specific points (look up the false oleander scale lifecycle to know when) seems to have done the trick. 
I also use coffee grounds (used), but I have no idea if that is effective against this scale species. 

 

 

[julie42]

I got rid of bugs on my palm plants by taking my palm into the shower or spraying it with a 
hose outside can be a great way to do this without causing a 
mess. Then I wiped down the palm leaves using rubbing 
alcohol to remove any lingering mites. If the infestation is 
extreme,
 insecticidal soap can also work well.