Mites are generally too small to be seen without a magnifying glass. They are brownish in color and look like dust. Mites leave foliage speckled and yellow. Leaves turn brown and fall off and new growth will be stunted with deformed buds. Spider mites produce webs on the leaves to hide and feed under.
Plants growing in hot, dry locations are most susceptible.
Scale insects are oval bugs up to four millimetres in diameter that tend to resemble a fungus. They have a brown, shell-like covering and are found on stems and leaves. They suck juices from the plant causing poor, stunted growth. They attach themselves to the plant and move very slowly. Scrub them off with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol or dab them with alcohol using a Q-tip and pick them off.