What is this & how do i get rid of it?

Aussie_Hellbilly · Feb 5, 2013

Hi All,

Just wondering what is causing this at the base of my riccoto chilli tree. There is always ants covering this plant, just wondering what is causing it & how to get rid of it.

Many Thanks

Terravexti · Feb 5, 2013

WHOA

holyhotpeppers · Feb 5, 2013

WOW! Looking forward to see what the diagnosis is for this nastiness!

queequeg152 · Feb 5, 2013

oh wow those are lesions? like... not just bug shit?

i think thats actually fungal scloritina ... they are like little hard masses of fungus. not familiar with it at all. maby contact a plant pathologist at a university.

Aji hombre · Feb 5, 2013

scale insect is my guess.

Cayennemist · Feb 5, 2013

Ají hombre said:
scale insect is my guess.

+1
Looks like a type of Scale to me too.

EDIT: 98% sure it is black Scale (Saissetia oleae)
Try this stuff, How to get rid of Black Scale

WalkGood · Feb 5, 2013

Cayennemist said:
+1
Looks like a type of Scale to me too. EDIT: 98% sure it is black Scale (Saissetia oleae) Try this stuff, How to get rid of Black Scale

+1 looks like black scale to me too http://www.daff.qld....au/26_17797.htm

queequeg152 · Feb 5, 2013

oh wow those are bugs?

southerncanada · Feb 5, 2013

You could try diatomaceous earth as a control for the juvenile 'crawlers'. Scale is a harder problem to treat than most definitely burn or dispose of affected material instead of compost.