How to identify and get rid of brown soft scale

Are you noticing weird brown bumps all over your indoor plants? Do they have sticky leaves and don’t look like they are doing that well? You may be dealing with a brown soft scale problem.

These tiny pests are known for their oval, flattened bodies that cling to plants, often going unnoticed until they’ve caused significant damage. They are actually an odd-looking insect that has a very unique life history.

Brown soft scales feed on the sap of plants, secreting a sticky substance called honeydew as they feed. The females produce eggs that are attached to her body. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae are very mobile, and are known as crawlers. Crawlers will live under their mother for protection, but only for a few days. After that, they are off to feed and find new plant hosts.

After the crawlers find a suitable feeding site, they will begin sucking plant juices and then molt into a new form. This stage of the scale’s life is more sedentary, but they can move if they need to. Once they molt into an adult, they will remain in the same place for the rest of their short lives.

Identifying a brown soft scale infestation requires close inspection of your plants. These pests have oval, flattened bodies that are typically brown to yellowish, and they often look like small bumps stuck to the plant's stems, leaves, or branches. They excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to the growth of sooty mold, giving the plant a blackened, dirty appearance. They honeydew can also attract ants that harvest the honeydew from the scales, while protecting them from predators.

If you notice your plant leaves looking sticky or covered in black mold, and see these small, unmoving bumps on the plant, you likely have a brown soft scale infestation.

How big are brown soft scale?

Brown soft scales are small, typically around 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length.

They are found throughout the United States, particularly in warmer climates and on indoor plants. You’ll most often find them on houseplants, ornamental shrubs, and fruit trees. They attach themselves to the undersides of leaves, stems, and branches.

Managing brown soft scale infestations doesn’t have to be hard. The best thing to prevent them from becoming a big problem is monitoring and early detection.

If you do find some brown soft scale on your plants, here are a few things you can do about it:

• Pruning: Remove and dispose of heavily infested branches or leaves to reduce the population of scales on your plant.
• Wiping or washing: Gently wipe the scales off plant surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge, or wash the plant with a mild soapy water solution to remove scales and honeydew.
• Improving plant health: Keep your plants healthy by providing proper care, including adequate watering, fertilizing, and light, which can make them less susceptible to scale infestations.