Scale insects (likely soft scale)

Attached to stems and leaf undersides of ornamental, garden, and indoor plants, especially in warm sheltered conditions.

They pierce plant tissue and suck phloem sap. Feeding can cause yellowing, wilting, stunting, and sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mold.

Most stages remain stationary on the plant; newly hatched crawlers disperse briefly before settling and forming a protective covering. Populations can increase rapidly in warm, low-airflow environments.

They can weaken or deform plants and encourage ants and sooty mold, but they pose no significant risk to people or pets. Natural enemies—including lady beetles, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, and fungal pathogens—often suppress them.