Scale

Adult females are oval or round soft legless bumps, 1/10"-1/5" in diameter. Males are minute, yellow, winged insects; larvae are minute, mobile crawlers.   Scales secrete large quantities of sticky honeydew.

Spider Mite

Adults are minute, reddish, pale green or yellow, 8-legged, and about the size of a grain of pepper (barely visible to the naked eye).  Fine webbing is usually found on the underside of the leaves.  Eggs hatch in 2-3 days; nymphs develop to adults in 7-10 days.

Mealy Bug

Soft, oval, 1/10" insects with distinctly segmented pinkish bodies covered with white, sticky, cotton-like fluff.  They are usually found on the underside of the leaves or in the crevices where the leaves attach.  Mealy bugs sometimes produce sticky honeydew.

Aphids

Adults are pear shaped, 1/32"-1/8", soft, fleshy insects.   Aphids may be green, pink, black, gray, or have a white, fluffy coating.  You may find them with or without wings.  Colonies develop quickly, and usually are found on bloom shoots and tender new growth.

Common Control Tips

Unfortunately there is not a "one size fits all" solution.  Many times controlling insects requires using several different tactics.  Much like going to a doctor, if one remedy doesn't work, try another.  Read carefully and follow all package directions when using any product.  Methods for controlling insects are quite numerous.  Listed below are several commonly used remedies.  Any insecticide may cause damage to the plant (phytotoxicity).  Testing the product on a few leaves, then waiting a couple of days before proceeding is recommended.

• Clean up to remove the insects:  Cleaning is not only a good physical control and a good place to start, but will also help you monitor how well your other controls are working.  Scales and mealy bugs require careful scraping off of the adults and washing the leaves with a mild solution of Ivory dishwashing solution and water.  Spider mites and aphids are easily knocked off with a steady stream of water.
• Insecticidal Soap:  Kills by smothering or suffocating.   Insect contact with the product is essential.  Use every 3-5 days, and thoroughly wet all plant surfaces.  Although it is a very mild product, it may have some phytotoxic properties, so testing first is recommended.  Non-toxic to mammals when used as directed.
• Neem:  Commonly sold as "Rose Defense".  Neem is an organic product derived from the Neem tree of Africa and India.  Neem is almost non-toxic to mammals; used in India as an ingredient in toothpaste, soap, and cosmetics.   Controls insects by poisoning, repelling, and inhibiting an insect's ability to reproduce.  Also controls some fungi.  Apply on a 7-14 day schedule, and spray thoroughly to the point of run-off.
• Pyrethrins:  An organic product derived from the Chrysanthemum family which is moderately toxic to mammals.  IMPORTANT:  ORGANIC DOES NOT MEAN NON-TOXIC!  Often packaged with Piperonyl Butoxide to enhance performance.   Works as a stomach and nerve poison.  Breaks down quickly in sunlight and has little residual benefit.  Better for the environment, but a disadvantage for lasting performance in controlling insects.
• Eight (Permethrin):  A wide spectrum spray that kills on contact and offers a 7-14 day residual.  Labeled for use indoors on houseplants;  also labeled for use on vegetable and ornamentals.  Moderately toxic.
• Stronger chemical controls including Isotox and Orthene:  Very toxic, and are to be used OUTDOORS, only as a last resort.  Advantage in that they are systemic, meaning the chemical is absorbed into the leaf tissue.  Offers up to a 7-14 day residual.  Isotox is similar in Orthene with an added miticide.
• Systemic Granules (Di-syston):  Granules are dug into the soil and the plant takes up the pesticide through the root system.  Controls insects for up to 6 weeks.  Not usually strong enough to eradicate an infestation, but good to use along with other control measures and as a preventative.  Very toxic; avoid contact with skin.