FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I found these things on some plants I got, wondering if they are pests; I thought they might look like scale? The photos are around ~100x with a mini microscope.

(someone please tell me no...)

So apparently that second image is scale (I love christmas scale...was hoping to not have to deal with pests on carnivorous plants yet). Still not sure what the first image is though.

I currently have bonide systemic granules at home, I read that I can use them on CPs in a couple of posts but I'm not 100% sure, any thoughts? I heard orthene is a good systematic otherwise, and I can pick some up at lowes. I only saw two scale bugs so far, so maybe it's a little drastic but I'm afraid that I didn't see others and they reproduce lol. (I also know bayers 3-in-1 is good, but it is banned in MA so I can't pick up any.)

Carnivorous Plant Resource lists Bonide Systemic Insect Control as safe. I haven't used it myself, but I'm going to order some to swat the mealybugs.

I've never had to deal with scale ( thrips and spider mites are big in AZ). That second pic almost looks like it could be the underside of the critter, but again, I fortunately have no experience with them.

Had this on my outdoor bushes last Spring and needed a systemic to get rid of them. I was told that the two shapes are male and and female scale but they could easily be 2 stages in the pest's lifecycle. Anyhow, I'd guess that your pics are two views of the same pest.

MikeB wrote: ↑Wed Dec 27, 2023 4:27 pm Carnivorous Plant Resource lists Bonide Systemic Insect Control as safe. I haven't used it myself, but I'm going to order some to swat the mealybugs.

I’ve used it on my Neps, VFTs and the indoor version on my capes. It helps. I am keen on finding out if you can use it on seedlings.