pest_control
Scale Insects on Prickly Pear Cactus
How to identify and get rid of scale insects on Prickly Pear Cactus. Size: 1–5mm.
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Identifying scale insects on Prickly Pear Cactus
Brown, tan, or white shell-like bumps on stems and leaves. Can look like part of the plant.
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Life cycle
Crawlers emerge from under scale and disperse. Settled scales are immobile under protective shell.
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Damage to Prickly Pear Cactus
Sap-sucking weakens plant. Honeydew leads to sooty mould. Heavy infestations cause dieback.
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How to treat scale insects on Prickly Pear Cactus
Scrape off manually. Apply horticultural oil. Systemic insecticide for severe cases.
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Preventing scale insects on Prickly Pear Cactus
Inspect new plants. Avoid stress conditions that weaken plants.