Scale Insects Commonly Infest Plants in Texas!

Scale insects are a common problem for plants in Texas. These pests will cause significant damage to your trees and shrubs by feeding on plant sap. They are hard to detect on your plants because they will often blend in with the bark or leaves, allowing them to wreak havoc without being noticed. When left to their own devices, your plants can suffer from stunted growth and wilting leaves. They also produce a sticky substance called honeydew that can cause sooty mold to grow and block your plants from absorbing sunlight which is essential in photosynthesis. To make scale insects a non-issue on your landscape, you'll want to enroll in a tree and shrub care program so your plants get regular fertilizer treatments and receive preventative insect control to ward off these pests.

What are scale insects?

Scale insects are small, sap-sucking pests that can cause significant damage to plants. They are typically classified into two main types: soft scale and armored scale. Soft scale insects have a waxy coating, while armored scale insects have a hard, protective shell. What's more, soft scales are larger than armored ones and feed on plant cells and phloem tissue from your trees or shrubs, compared to armored scales that only feed on plant cells.

These insects can be difficult to spot, as they often blend in with the plant. Soft scale insects particularly blend in with the leaves, while armored scales blend with the bark. They feed by inserting their mouthparts into the plant and sucking out either individual plant cells or phloem tissue.

What damage do scale insects cause to plants?

Scale insects can cause significant damage to plants if left unchecked. Because they feed on the sap of plants, these tiny plant pests will weaken them and cause stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and even death. Your trees and shrubs that are infested with scale insects will become weaker and more susceptible to other stressors, like diseases and other pest infestations.

In addition to feeding on the sap, scale insects also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which can attract other pests and lead to the growth of sooty mold. This mold can cover the leaves and block sunlight, further weakening the plant. In severe cases, scale infestations can cause entire branches or even entire plants to die.

Protect Your Plants From Scale Insects by Enrolling in a Professional Tree & Shrub Care Program

To protect your plants from scale insects, enrolling in a tree and shrub care program is highly recommended. These kinds of programs are designed to provide comprehensive care for your trees and shrubs, including preventative insect control treatments to keep scale insects at bay. These treatments are applied at strategic times to target the life cycle of scale insects and prevent them from causing damage to your plants.

Additionally, professional plant care programs will include fertilizer treatments to ensure your plants receive the right set of nutrients to stay healthy and resilient to infestations. By providing your plants with the proper nutrients, they will be better equipped to fight off pests and diseases, ensuring they remain healthy and beautiful year-round.

Call us today to enroll in our tree and shrub care program!

Scale insects can quickly turn your healthy trees and shrubs into weak and unappealing plants. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by signing up for our tree and shrub care program at Weedex Lawn Care! This program includes tree and shrub insect control treatments to protect your plants from scale insects and other kinds of pests and fertilizer treatments to help them become healthier and resist infestations. We offer this program to residential properties in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and nearby areas in Texas. Call us at (972) 727-9207 to enroll in our tree and shrub care program today!