"Ann" wrote in message after me

I expect they are actually Scale Insect but in their breeding state,
when
it
can look like woolly aphids although you can still see the old large
female
scale on top of the woolly stuff.

I've not found much that will treat Scale effectively so I treat mine by
using a hand sprayer full of water with a drip of washing up liquid in
it,
and constantly keep it up to maximum pressure. I then go around the
plant
slowly from the top to the bottom, around every leaf and stem, in effect
pressure washing off all scale. With a bad infection you may have to do
it
again after a couple of weeks, and you will get wet doing it and it does
take time but it works (and no chemicals).


I have this problem on my citrus that is encouraged by ants - I
periodically
do just what you have suggested but it comes back within 6 months or so.
Plants are much better when I move them outside for the summer.


Yes, ants do "milk" the scale for their sugary excretions, and like you, I
have a feeling they may actually farm them by placing the young ones. Scale
are immobile when adult.
Outside, some birds eat scale, at least I've observed what appeared to be
that and there may be other predators. Inside you may have a source of
infection nearby, another plant with scale that provides the reinvention of
your Citrus.
--
Regards
Bob

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