What to do if there was a scale shield on a ficus? Overview of all effective ways to fight

The reasons why the scabies appear on the ficus are diverse, so no flower grower is safe from its appearance. Females and larvae of the pest draw nutrient juices from it, which leads to falling leaves and slow death. Therefore, as soon as the scab has been identified, you should immediately begin to use chemical insecticides or folk remedies.

Pest Description

Scutellaria (Diaspididae) is a family of insects belonging to the order of Hemoptera. Its representatives are known as pests of wild and cultivated plants, including indoor plants. Juicy leaves of ficus beckon them as a source of juice in which the substances necessary for nutrition, primarily sugar, are dissolved.

The male pest is completely harmless and very different from the female: these are small flying insects. Females and larvae spend their lives on the leaves and shoots of plants, eating their juice. Adult female scale - rounded creatures from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, covered with a wax shell. This provides pest protection, which makes it difficult to control it. Adverse to the host of the ficus is the fact of the rapid multiplication of the scale.

Signs of infection

You need to start taking measures to save the ficus if:

1. A sticky coating resembling syrup appeared on the leaves. This substance is called honey dew or paddy. Scale, being voracious, often draws more juice from plants than it can absorb, and releases its excess out. Such an environment is favorable for the appearance of soot fungus, which also causes damage.
2. With a careful examination of the ficus (preferably under magnification), you can see the larvae and females of the scale, having a dirty gray or brown color.
3. Damaged areas of the leaves begin to overgrow with new tissue, so hillocks appear on its surface. Ultimately, the sheet plate becomes deformed.
   
4. Ficus leaves turn red and gradually die.
5. With a running infection, individual shoots begin to die off, and the growth of the whole plant stops.

If the "work experience" of the pest exceeds 2 years, then its parasitic activity leads to mass death of leaves and drying out of the branches. On the trunk and shoots, the bark begins to crack.

How did she get on ficus?

The shield on the ficus of Benjamin appears in different ways. Among them:

• the acquisition of an already infected plant, because at the initial stage it is not easy to detect a pest without a thorough inspection, and in flower shops an epidemic of scale insects is not uncommon;
• together with a bouquet of flowers brought into the house - bought or assembled independently;
• rarely, the shield gets into the room through an open window if the wind brings it;
• ficus, transferred to the balcony in the warm season, can become infected with pests if they are on neighboring balconies;
• if the house already has plants on which the scalefish lives.

Therefore, it is very difficult to protect plants from infection.

Ways to fight

There are different methods of how to deal with the scabies on the ficus of Benjamin.You can achieve the best result by combining them with each other. One procedure will not be enough, so the key to success is regularity.

It is important to strictly follow the instructions for the drugs and recommendations so as not to cause harm. For example, increasing the dosage of pesticides not only does not bring a better effect, but can also cause poisoning of the plant and person.

Mechanical

Adults and larvae should be removed manually. To do this, use a sponge soaked in a solution of laundry soap, tweezers or the blunt side of the knife to scrape the scab from the stiff ficus branches. Affected leaves and shoots - cut and destroy.

Chemical

The use of chemical insecticides is the fastest and most effective way to combat any plant pests, including scale insects. But pesticides are often powerless against females that are reliably protected by a wax shell. The larvae die in one treatment, but soon new ones will appear from the eggs. This explains the need for preliminary collection of guards and the frequency of procedures.
The following insecticides are effective against scale insects:

1. Aktara is a systemic insecticide that has won the confidence of growers. This is a powerful tool that destroys almost all pests of indoor plants. It is used for 2–4 sprays and spills of soil.
2. "Actellik", which is called the best drug in the fight against scale insects. Allowed to use it no more than 3 times. All work due to the toxicity of Actellica is carried out only in the open air.
3. Vermitek with a neurotoxin effect. In order not to harm the plant, you can treat ficus 1 to 2 times, and then apply another insecticide.
4. "Confidor" contact intestinal exposure.
5. "Fitoverm" with the active substance "aversectin C", which is not addictive in pests. It is a powder that dissolves well in water. The obtained fluid is treated with ficus 4-6 times in 7-10 days.

Work with chemical insecticides is carried out in a well-ventilated area. A person should use protective equipment, preventing the ingress of substances on the skin and mucous membranes.

Processing is carried out 3–6 times until the destruction of the scale insects. Between the procedures should take 7-10 days: during this time new individuals will appear.

Biological

The use of biological products is harmless to plants and humans. Other insects, such as blastotrix and prosaltaltella, destroy the scabbard. Pests are fungi and some types of nematodes. To "hook" them into ficus, you can purchase the drugs "Avertin", "Aversectin" and "Nemabact".

Folk remedies

A good result shows the use of a composition of soap and engine oil diluted in water. Ficus is carefully treated with this solution, covering the soil with polyethylene, and left for 12 hours. It will take 3 procedures performed after 7-10 days. For cooking, you will need a glass of water, 10 g of grated laundry soap and 30 g of oil.

Infusions are also effective:

• garlic (5 cloves per glass);
• onions (1 piece per glass);
• hot pepper (50 g per 0.5 l);

They are left under a tightly closed lid in a dark place for 12-24 hours so that the water acquires a rich smell that repels insects. Spraying procedures are carried out 4-6 times with a weekly interval.

Prevention

Even following all the recommendations for prevention, it is impossible to completely protect the ficus from the scale. But simple measures will help reduce the likelihood of its occurrence:

• maintaining the plant in good condition: thinning the crown, removing dry or yellowed leaves and shoots;
• water and feed ficus on time, because weakened plants become easy prey for pests;
• conduct regular inspections of the plant;
• use the grid on open windows;
• carefully examine new plants and bouquets of flowers brought into the house.

These universal recommendations will protect against other pests.

The fight against scale insects on ficus and other plants is not an easy task. It is important to prevent an increase in the number of pests by starting processing indoor flowers on time. Practice shows that with regular use of funds, by all rules, it is possible to destroy the scale shield and save the ficus, returning it to a healthy appearance.