scale insect on indoor citrus tree.

[Hazelb]

I was just looking at the lovely flowers forming on my lime tree ( indoor citrus tree ) and I found loads of scale insects. ( I think they are soft scale )

I'd like to treat it, but does anyone have any experience of what works and what doesn't. I would prefer organic...so we can still eat the limes and save the planet  ;D, but if not, I would like to keep spraying to a minimum.

...I suppose I could pick the blighters off by hand!  :-\

[Hazelb]

[goodlife]

If you lime tree is not huge..you could use cotton wool buds and dip them into methylated spirit..give a 'moisturising wipe' over their backs and those will 'give up'. Don't treat the plants..just the 'bugs'.
It don't get rid of them totally as finding every single one is almost impossible..but will drastically reduce the amount.
Other option is using predatory treatment..Gardening Naturally sell scale insect 'eating' little thingies that will find the 'food'..lay their eggs inside..and the off spring of these insect will use the scale insect like 'bread and butter'.
But again..it is control measure..it is unlikely to get rid of them.
Neither of these controls will affect the plant and its all clean for you, the plant and the fruit.

[Alex133]

My lemon tree also suffers from scale - I scrape off all I can see with finger nail and wash each leaf with weak soapy water before putting out in spring and bringing in in autumn. Doesn't eradicate but keeps under reasonable control. (Obviously it's not a very big tree!). Rather do that than reach for the spray can, yuck.

[Hazelb]

Thanks for the input guys,

I've been doing a bit of googling and I think there is a possibility that ladybirds eat soft scale insects ( which is what I think I have ) My garden is usually full of those, so I might check out the apple trees for ladybird nymphs and see if I can have my own ( free ) biological control.

...just have to explain to hubby why it is ok to have ladybirds dropping into his lunch, when he eats in the conservatory  ;D

I'll post back with my results!