Question
QUESTION: I have pigmy date palms and they are loaded with mealy bugs from new to old stage.  i have tried hort oil and it seems to kill them but they keep coming back.  the head of the palm is loaded with them and it looks like as fast as i kill them they come back.  is there any known problem liek this and what can be done.  thank you

ANSWER: Steve, I think its scale you are dealing with, not mealybugs, the hort oil will do it, but it has to be administered properly; douse them with it, then the next day you need to take a high pressure nozzle on your hose and hose away all the dead scale, repeat this 3 times and you will have it under control; the problem is, people spray the oil on and then leave the dead inspects on the plant, this protects the scale that is under the dead ones and allows eggs to hatch producing more scale. Nick

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QUESTION: No i know it is mealy bugs not scale.  i can send you a picture if you like

Answer
OK, if they are mealy bugs, the treatment is the same, the key being, you must wash off the residual oil and dead insects the next day with the nozzle, and then repeat; these insects (scale, mealy bugs, aphids etc)can be persistent, you have to be too. Nick