Scale?

[crucialbunny]

I was doing some harvesting today and came across 3 of these things in various sections of the plant. Not worried about it much because they are so isolated and I only found them on 3 branches. I've never encountered one before and curious as to how harmful they might be. Anyone know?

[growell]

looks like an egg becareful could end up with infestation mate

[ChadWestport]

Is it a goo? Is it from where you took off a leaf or branch? That stalk is looking a bit pail.

[crucialbunny]

It's some kind of pest. It's like a itty bitty miniature abalone. No legs, head, or anything discernable other than looking like a tiny glob of tar. A couple branches were past their prime when I harvested so yeah, a bit pale. It was a rather blah plant and I kept waiting for more bud development so I may have waited a bit too long to take it down. The trichomes on it were all over the map, from clear to dark amber. Abnormal heat has been wreaking havoc on some of my plants.

[ChadWestport]

I was wondering if the bug had took some of the life out of the stalk, like a leech... a weed leech, don't think they exist though Odd one man, not sure I know what to say if it isn't a liquid / tar. Can you get it off with tweezers or a toothpick?

[growell]

see what kills them mate for future reference

[crucialbunny]

How the hell do I do that? Doesn't move or behave like any bug I've come across. I would have no idea if it was dead, alive, or doing an Irish jig.. It just sits there like a tar ball. How the hell can something like that even move? I peeled one off and there really wasn't much to see other than more black. If it didn't creep me out so much I'd look at it under the scope. If it is scale it just anchors itself down and drains sap from the branch. Doesn't look like it could drink much.

[growell]

dont know then mate are sure its a bug

[buds73]

It does look like a Scale insect from the little bit of googling i done. Take a look here ----> https://wimastergardener.org/article/scale-insects/

[AccidentalGardener]

oooo. that article gave me the willies. I don't know what's gotten into me. Been a weird year, LOL

[crucialbunny]

Yeah, that's it for sure. Thanks for the link. Luckily I only found 4 on the entire plant. None of the others seem to have them at all.

[buds73]

AccidentalGardener yeah they do look a little strange. I'd never heard of them untill they were mentioned here.

crucialbunny your welcome, glad i could help. At least it doesn't look like they can ruin the bud unlike the bud worm i've been seeing on here lately.

[MeEasy]

I believe that you are right about scale I think they are called spherical scale and the males look like that I've only seen two of em one years ago and now this one. Then again it could be poop from something else??