Scale Insects on Indoor Sago Palm: Life Cycle and Control

A homeowner removed scale insects from an indoor sago palm using alcohol, a brush, and a dental tool. They read that once removed, scales fall into soil, become immobile, and cannot reattach, so soil could be reused. They ask how immobile scales could move around the house to reinfest the plant.

Expert Explanation

For most scale insects, only the "crawler" stage (before adulthood) is mobile. Once they become adult scales, they are sessile and will die if removed. Crawlers are tiny, resembling spider mites. They can be controlled with insecticidal soap.

Resources:

• Scale insect information
• Insecticidal soap details