Diagnosing Tiny Eggs on Dieffenbachia: Scale Insects vs. Sap Globules

Sharon's large Dieffenbachia in an indoor pond area has thousands of tiny, hard-to-remove, yellowish "eggs" on both leaf surfaces. Soap/vinegar wash and OTC sprays failed. No other plants affected.

Most Likely: Scale Insects (Juvenile/Crawler Stage)

• Scale crawlers are tiny, oval, amber/white, and attach firmly to leaves/stems.
• Adults develop hard, dark shells; juveniles are lighter.
• Scrape with fingernail → whitish residue underneath = scale.
• Aphids are softer, have visible legs/antennae, cluster on new growth.

Alternative: Plant Sap Globules

Healthy Dieffenbachia sometimes exude clear, sticky sap droplets on leaves—harmless, wipe off easily. But "thousands, hard to remove" points to scale.

Treatment for Scale

1. Isolate plant.
2. Scrub leaves/stems with soft brush + insecticidal soap or neem oil.
3. Repeat weekly 3–4× to catch hatching crawlers.
4. Systemic (imidacloprid) as soil drench for heavy infestations.
5. Monitor nearby plants—scale spreads slowly but surely.

Email photo to wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com for confirmation.