Wax Scale on Boxwood: White Bumps With Red Undersides—Spray Oil Now, Carbaryl in April

White rounded bumps on boxwood stems, red underneath = wax scale. Adults suck sap under wax coat; red eggs underneath.

Control Timeline

1. Now: Scrape off adults. Spray horticultural oil on warm afternoon (kills some).
2. Mid-April: Carbaryl (Sevin) 3× at 2-week intervals to hit crawlers hatching from eggs.

Key

Timing = everything. Target crawlers, not armored adults.