How can you identify scale insects on woody ornamentals?

• A. Look for rapid growth and no honeydew.
• B. Look for heavy defoliation with no residue.
• C. Slow-growing plants with honeydew, sticky residue, and visible scale insects on stems or leaves.
• D. Look for strong floral fragrance.

Answer: (C)

Scale insects are sap-sucking pests that slow a plant’s growth. They leave behind honeydew, a sugary, sticky residue, and you often see the insects themselves attached to stems or leaves as small, shell-covered bodies. So, when a woody ornamental shows slow growth plus honeydew and a sticky film with visible scale insects on the branches or foliage, that combination is the strongest clue of a scale infestation. The other signs don’t fit scale insects: rapid growth with no honeydew isn’t typical, defoliation without any sticky residue isn’t consistent with scale feeding, and a strong floral fragrance has no link to scale presence.