They look a bit like scale to me (first pic). Closer view would be nice. If so, horticultural oil is safe and usually effective. You may have to treat every week or so. Where are you located?

I think Dave is right, it looks like scale.

I’ve had luck with using a q-tip dipped in alcohol and rubbing it over each insect. It’s tedious but effective

Thanks, Dave and Danielle!

Dave, I am in Edmonton in Alberta, so it is WAY UP NORTH!!!

I just took a couple of photos closer up. If it is scale, it will take a long, long time with a Q tip dipped with alcohol, esp with the many dense branches that this plant has! :-(

So does this photo confirm that it is scale? Thank you again!

based on your location .. this must be a houseplant... but was it outside for summer???

its would be unusual for scale to mysteriously appear indoors ... unless it came with a new plant ....

anyway ... all my plants that are outside for summer.. are treated with a systemic product to MAKE SURE ... i dont bring anything in the house for winter ... i usually do this a few weeks before they need to come in ....

if you want to look into such product.. make sure it is labeled for scale ....

you might also want to isolate the plant from your other plants until you deal with this ... many scale are very specific to certain plants.. but better careful than regretful ...

ken

ps: also.. bringing it inside from outside.. would be stress and might account for the leaf fall ... it might not be the scale causing said leaf fall .... especially since it doesnt appear they are on the leaves.. but the stems .... my point being.. more than one thing may be going on here ...

Absolutely no question about that being scale!! And while picking off, dabbing with alcohol or using a horticultural spray will work, they are time consuming and not highly efficient (may require multiple applications). I'd go with a systematic insecticide intended for houseplants.

Thank you so much, Ken and gardengal!

Ken, you are so smart - yes, I did have it outside during the summer (probably the last time that I would do so! LOL!) and I am sure that the leaf drop is a combination of factors, such as the change in the environment etc....

Do you both have any suggestion on a systemic insecticide please? As it is very cold outside now (subzero Celsius now!) if I were to spray it, I would have to take it to the garage and apply, which could get messy.... so if there is a suggestion on a systemic insecticide, I would appreciate it.

Thanks again!

I just read about naeem oil being better than the regular horticultural oil - what is your experience and advice on this please? Thanks!

Canadian pesticide laws are much more restrictive than US ones and I know there are any number of products not available so not sure I can suggest anything specifically. Most houseplant systemics here are based on imidacloprid, if that helps.

"Better" is a very subjective assessment :-) Neem can be used as a soil drench or systemic, which typical hort oils cannot. It just naturally has different attributes from the usual hort oils that makes its use much more versatile. ALL horticultural oils are considered 'organic' controls but you may be swayed on preference to those developed from plant based oils - like neem - as opposed to the standard petroleum based oils.