Q: I noticed my bushes were looking scrappy this year so I went out to prune them back. There are thousands of white bugs under the leaves and all over the stems. They are not on any other bushes. How do I get rid of them?

A: You have a big infestation of cottony cushion scale.

Treatment is in two parts: spray under all leaves and around all stems thoroughly with horticultural oil. This will suffocate adults and many small “crawlers”.

Two weeks later spray acetamiprid (Ortho Fruit Flower & Vegetable Spray) according to label directions.

The sap-sucking insects should start turning brown in a month.

Cottony Cushion Scale

cottony cushion scale

cottony cushion scale

cottony cushion scale

cottony cushion scale

cottony cushion scale