What is this pest on my Guava trees?

[nana7b]

I grow tropical Guava in containers.



I have had this pest on them for a while. They are soft and can be rubbed off easily. What is this pest?




I also use the following which sprays a fine jet of water to dislodge them.



Thanks in advance.

[Das Bhut]

Looks like a guava moth to me but I could be wrong.

[nana7b]

Thank you Das but it does not look like a guava moth based on a google search. I know the photo is not the best.

They don't actually eat the leaf but I suspect they suck the juice out of them. If I don't control them the tree declines.

They are very soft bodied and has a white powdery coating on the outside. If you slide your finger on top of them without any pressure they just smear.

Also, I have not seen them move.

[Viking Guy]

Those are most likely the egg casings of the Pulvinaria floccifera, Cottony Camellia Scale.

[Mike T]

It is a cottony scale alright.

[nana7b]

That is it! Thank you both!

Looks like ants help these guys. Time to put some tanglefoot around the trunk.