Can I use household soap to kill the bugs?

Avoid using standard dish soap as it can damage the leaves. Use a dedicated insecticidal soap or horticultural oil instead.

Will these bugs kill my plant?

If left untreated for a long time, scale can drain the plant of energy and cause it to decline. Catching them early makes them very easy to manage.

Bearberry cotoneaster: pests, causes and fixes

Check these first

Inspect the stems for small, hard bumps.
Look for sticky residue on the leaves.
Check the undersides of the leaves for tiny insects.

Likely causes

Scale insects
Most likely
How to tell: You will see small, brown, or tan bumps on the stems and undersides of leaves that do not move. They often leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew.
What to do: Scrape off the visible scale insects with a soft toothbrush or your fingernail. Apply horticultural oil or neem oil to the branches every 7 to 10 days until the infestation is gone.
Aphids
Possible
How to tell: This is less common for this plant, usually caused by poor air circulation or over-fertilizing. Look for clusters of tiny green or black insects on new growth.
What to do: Spray the plant with a strong stream of water from your hose to knock them off. If they persist, use an insecticidal soap spray once a week for 3 weeks.

Find out what's wrong with your bearberry cotoneaster

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Worry if the plant starts losing leaves or if the branches show signs of dieback. A few bugs are manageable, but a heavy infestation can weaken the plant significantly.

Stopping it coming back

Keep your plant healthy with proper watering and airflow to make it less attractive to pests. Regularly inspect the foliage during the growing season.

Keep your bearberry cotoneaster healthy from here

Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I use household soap to kill the bugs?: Avoid using standard dish soap as it can damage the leaves. Use a dedicated insecticidal soap or horticultural oil instead.
Will these bugs kill my plant?: If left untreated for a long time, scale can drain the plant of energy and cause it to decline. Catching them early makes them very easy to manage.

Why are there bugs on my Bearberry cotoneaster?