Scale and mealy bugs on potted citrus trees

Question

I have a potted variegated Meyer lemon tree. It has what appears to be mealy bugs although I was told it’s actually soft scale.

Neem oil didn’t work. Would dormant oil work better? Any suggestions, I don’t want to give up my trees.

Thank you, S. Smith

Answer 1

Once they seal themselves on, the only good way to remove them is to scrape them with your fingernail, or a knife, without hurting the bark of the tree. Then you can spray the neem oil to keep them away from the tree. It can be difficult to kill these hard-shelled creature, except by physical removal. But you can keep them from the plant.

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