Question
I came back from out of town and discovered little tiny (size of a pin head) black bug or scale on my plant, the cieling, floor and top of my glass top dining room table.  I can't see them moving and they are sort of suctioned on to the surfaces.  What is this and how do I get rid of them?  It appears that it came out of the planter and I noticed a whitish fuzz or flake on the top of the soil.  I need your help.  Thanks.

Answer
Dear Pat,

It sounds as if your plant might have been attacked by scale insects since you say they appear to be sucioned on the surfaces, although I wouldn't have thought they would be that tiny nor black - they are usually brown.  But they could be red spider mite which are very tiny but again not black.  Thrips are black but they are a flying insect.

Whatever they are they need to be killed so,if it were my plant,I would wash off the insects using tepid water and a cloth and when the plant is dry spray with insecticide following the instructions on the container.  Isolate your plant from others.  Remove the white "mould" from the topsoil and put a new layer of potting compost on the surface.

When you go to buy the insecticide I would take an infected leaf with you in the hope that the store can indentify the insect.  If they are anything like the stores around here in southern Spain the staff will not have a clue, however, you may see pictures of insects on the insecticide container which look like the ones your plant has.

To help keep insects at bay I would suggest that after you have killed off all the present ones you sponge the leaves with tepid water and regularly spray the plant which will keep it cool and dust free and hopefully, insect free.  Spray both sides of the leaves.

Alocasia's are notoriously difficult to grow so please don't blame yourself if your efforts are not successful.  There are lots of other plants with spectacular foliaage which are easier to grow so you could choose one of these instead.  Good Luck

Diana