Tiny Snail Like Creatures On Gardenia Plant Branches

Question

I was cleaning spent flowers from my frost proof gardenia plants and found the branches covered in what looks like tiny snails. They are white and are hard. The plants bloomed twice this year and were rally healthy looking. I have them in large pots on my patio. About 50% of the leaves on the most infested plant are yellow which has not happened in the five years that I have had the plants. Checked online and no source mentioned snails. I am very familiar with all garden and indoor pests and have not seen these creatures on any other plants. Do you know what they are, how destructive they are, and how to get rid of them. Unfortunately, I can’t upload a photo. I might be able to text a photo.

Answer 1

It sounds like it would have to be a type of scale, possibly the Japanese wax scale, which has a white, waxy coating and is common on gardenias. Here is more:

https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/pestmngt3/AG189/html/Japanese_Wax_Scale.HTML

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/gardenia-insects-related-pests/