Indian wax scale is a soft scale creep usually found in warmer areas of the country, but has been recently been reported as far north as Southern New Jersey. This scale is an indiscriminant pest. Usually a rare find in the Charlotte Metro area, this year I’ve seen these scales on several species of trees, shrubs, and vines.
They can be treated with horticultural oil now, or in early summer when the larva form (crawlers) are active. These scales can create a lot of honeydew if left untreated, leading to sooty mold. Interestingly, there are no male wax scales, they are all females.
