Pineapple scale
Tiny round white scales crowd on the leaves and fruit, the leaves show small rusty or yellow spots, and heavy crusts weaken the plant and mar the fruit.
Crops it attacks
Where the damage shows
When to act
Every month, check the leaves and fruit of 5 plants at each of ten spots, and check crowns and slips before planting. Act when scale crusts spread on the leaves in several spots or show on young fruit, timing the spray for when the crawlers are out.
What to spray
Active ingredients only, never brands. The IRAC group tells how it works: switch to a different group next time, so the pest does not learn to survive it. Spray only when the damage is worth the cost, and only with products registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority for your crop. Follow the label. The Shopee and Lazada links only show who sells something with that active ingredient, not a recommendation of any seller or product.
No spray for this scale is listed in Philippine guides; plant clean crowns and slips, and pull out and destroy heavily crusted plants.
How to prevent it
- Plant clean crowns and slips: check their bases and leaves, and throw out crusted ones.
- Pull out and destroy heavily crusted plants.
- Clear old plantings and residue before replanting, since scales carry over on old plants.
- Avoid broad insecticides for other pests. They kill the small wasps that hold scales down.
Natural enemies and biological help
- Tiny parasitic wasps and lady beetles attack the scales. Spare them.
Where this comes from
Not sure it is this one?
Many pests look alike. Send a photo to Anee, the smart farm technician in anee.io. She reads it with your crop, its age and the weather, and tells you what it most likely is and what to do first. In Tagalog or English.