Hey all,

A band of scale has taken residence on Drake. They are fairly few in number, but my negligence has allowed them to produce an undesireable amount of honeydew, which the ants certainly fancy.

I'd like to know what the best way to rid the tree leaves / stems, as well as the surrounding areas, of this visco-ticky (that's viscous and sticky combined) liquid. I'm not really asking how to get rid of the scale so much as what they have left behind.

Actually, since we're here... my plants are inside for the summer, at least for now. My guess is the the Hort Oils are not really meant to be used indoors? And I certainly don't have access to a good, forceful hose to spray everything off (nor an area to do it). Does anyone have any inside-the-apartment specific ways to get rid of scale?

Also, so far as the ants go. I was going to try the borax in honey trick that I read in another thread, assuming that I can find the borax. How do the commercial ant baits work? You know, little bits of food inside a small container that the ants reportedly carry back to the nest which gets rid of all of them.

Thanks much

~Derek

Derek, you can wash them off in the shower, or use the sink sprayer, or the good old fashion hand wash. Take care. Millet

Now, that's one COOL idea. Taking shower together with your trees.

I found this guy crawling around today. Looks like a tiny spider... or spider mite? Very red (bright!). Link to picture below (1024x768). Sorry for the magnification, it's the best my camera can do

So, is it a mite? Anyone? Looks like me and Drake are going to have to visit the shower ASAP.

~Derek

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~derk/Pictures/2006/Plants/June_13/
click on [Scale_and_Mites.jpg]

Derek, that insect is about the same size as the scale. Spider Mites are extemely small, and difficult to see with the eye. - Millet

I've seen those little red "mites" crawling on my pots or on the ground, but I have yet to see them on my trees and do not notice any damage from them. They are very small but visible because of their color. Any idea what they are? I'll have to look them up.

There are some mites that are actually good to have. These are the predatory mites that eat spider mites,thrips and other unwanted bugs. This may be one of the good ones and its hanging around because you have something it wants, bad bugs.

After a bit of reading, it seems that Millet was on the right track; mites just aren't that big. Or, at least, none of the varieties that I have found reference to at this point.

I should have included a length reference in the picture, but the stem that the bug is on is ~6-7 mm in diameter, which makes the bug 3-4 mm long. Most of the mites that I've read on are less than 1 mm.

Anyway, perhaps there are some larger varieties that I just haven't learned of yet. Who knows... I'll try to keep all interested parties up-to-date on any new happenings.

Thanks for all of your comments

~Derek

The little Ant Baits don't work well. I use Boric Acid (from Menards/ H.D.) & sprinkle it in ant hills & around plants. It's working.

I found a couplea scale on my new Thai Lime, i just squished them with my fingers, gently.

I didnt ever find them on any other plants, so I guess I did a good enough job. They kinda squish, id have a paper towel or something handy to wipe the goo off

Borax= boric acid. is easy and good for killing ants. but making a go of squishing all the scale so no more dew is produced is a good idea. Heck, even showering with the plant may rinse off some of that stickyness.

Good Luck!

If you mix boric acid crystals and sugar crystals without melting them together, the ants are able to sort through the crystals and cart off only the sugar crystals. After some time they know what to do, the undissolved mixture will only work for one week, then the ants adapt.

Joe, what are you talking about "mixing sugar crystals with boric acid crystals"? I only use Boric acid in powder form -- no sugar. I read back & no one mentioned using sugar w/ boric acid.