Plant pests · SWFL Pest Identifier
Tea Scale
Keep an eye on it Fine in small numbers — repeated sightings mean a source.
How to identify it
- White/brown flecking stuck to leaf undersides (camellias, hollies)
- Yellow blotches on the leaf top side
- Doesn’t wipe off easily — they’re glued down
Size
Tiny (pinhead)
Where you'll see it
Lawn / garden
Looks like
Crawler
Did you know
Adult scales never move again — they cement themselves down and live under armor for life.
What it means for you
Systemic treatment beats sprays — the armor sheds contact products.
Not sure this is your bug?
Text a photo and a licensed local tech will identify it for free — or run it through the interactive identifier.
Similar plant pests in SWFL
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
Worth a pro lookWhite waxy spirals on palm frond undersides
Mealybug
Keep an eye on itWhite cottony clusters at stem joints and leaf bases
Aphid
Keep an eye on itSoft green/black/orange specks clustered on new growth
Sri Lankan Weevil
Keep an eye on itChalk-white weevil with a short snout
Dealing With This One?
Get a real price online in about 60 seconds — or text us a photo first and we'll tell you honestly whether it even needs treatment.