The adults are tan to brown-black. Thrips leave black specks of their feces, scattered like a sprinkling of pepper on leaf surfaces, and are attracted to bright blue color. Mealybugs look like little fluffs of greasy or waxy white cotton that are oval, somewhat raised and distinctly segmented with a serrated body margin. They snuggle near crevices between stems and leaves and on the underside of leaves. Unlike scales, they move slowly when disturbed.
Mealybugs secrete sticky honeydew that makes the leaves look shiny.
Leaf distortion, spotting and growth deformities are all symptoms. Scales are hardly recognizable as insects at all. Some resemble tiny oyster or turtle shells. They come off easily by scraping them with your fingernail. Scales can also leave a honeydew residue.