Question
Wow, and to think I just thought I had ants.
I did spray the plants down yesterday with Safer Brand "Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract". It says it kills mealy bugs and soft scales. The active ingredient is 2% Potassium Salts of fatty acids. the remainder just says OTHER. Do you think this will do the trick? I'm not seeing the ants anywhere else in the house. should I treat  plants in other areas too?
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Followup To

Question -
I have ants on a couple houseplants. One is a china doll the oither is a Ficus. It looks like they are putting little pods on all the branches. the pods come off pretty easy but I cant seem to stay on top of them. the more little pods the more likly I am to lose a branch. How do I get rid of this? I will send pictures to [email protected] same subject line


Answer -
Hi Cindy,

Thanks for the photos. That always makes diagnosis easier and more accurate.

The "pods" that you refer to are actually scale insects. Scale can be hard to detect. They resemble insects when they are babies, but they are smaller than a pinhead and very hard to see. When they find a suitable site, they insert their tiny probes into the plant tissue and stay there. As adults, these sucking insects are slightly oval, slightly raised, translucent bumps or blisters about an eighth of an inch long. They can be found along stems and on the undersides of leaves. They don't look like bugs and don't appear to move. As they get older, they develop a hard, dark brown shell and look like a small mole or pod, as you say.

As the infestation increases, these sucking insects will secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that falls onto leaves, furniture and floors. This stickiness is the most obvious sign of scale and the one that most people notice first. It is this honeydew that is attracting the ants. Get rid of the scale and the honeydew and you will get rid of the ants.

The key to eliminating scale is to treat even the ones that you cannot see. That means thoroughly drenching all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet. It is also best if you repeat this treatment all over again in 5 to 7 days to catch any crawlers (the translucent young ones) that you missed the first time. After that, you should check your plant weekly to see if they return.

I do not recommend any pesticides because they are all hazardous to use and not 100% effective against scale. The best non-toxic treatment for mealybug and scale is called Brand X Foliage Cleaner. It is available through Southwest Plantscape Products in California (www.southwestplantscape.com). Their phone is 1-800-333-7977.It is a silicon-based product so it is very slippery. Its ability to penetrate is probably the key to its effectiveness because it gets into the tiny crevices that other sprays miss.

You may want to try spraying with rubbing alcohol that will help break through the hard outer barrier of the scale and kill it. Mix 1 part alcohol with 8 to 10 parts of water. Add a little liquid soap to help it spread.

Sun Spray Ultra Fine horticultural oil is also mixed with water and effectively smothers the scale. Complete coverage is important.

Another good non-toxic spray is Hot Pepper Wax. Its main ingredient is hot cayenne pepper that overheats the plant pests. There is an information website for it at www.hotpepperwax.com.

Finally neem oil works similarly to horticultural oil. It should be diluted with water and Pine Sol to counteract the onion-like odor. All of these are available nationwide at plant and garden centers and also by mail order.

Important: None of these should be applied to plants in direct sun or in high temps.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me a rating and nomination.  

Answer
Hi Cindy,

That's one of the risks of sending me plant questions - you often find out stuff you had never before considered.

Insecticidal soap is not really that effective in treating scale. It may keep it under control, but not eradicate it. The reason is that the soap alone won't penetrate the hard outer shell of the scale insects. Adding the rubbing alcohol will accomplish that as long as you are thorough.

There is no reason to treat other plants unless you can actually see some critters on those plants. It is a good idea to check all of your plants regularly for signs of plant pests. Always check the undersides of leaves and less obvious places. At least now you know what scale looks like and you will no longer dismiss them as pods!

Good luck and let me now how it turns out.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me a rating and nomination.