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Scale insects

Hi Listers,

        My mother has a problem with one of her plants - it is a Ficus of
some sort, but we haven't been able to correctly identify it.  Strangely it
is deciduous - neither of us has ever heard of a deciduous one, but ever
since she acquired it, many years ago, it has sat outside in the summer,
and lost its leaves in the winter. 

         That's not the problem though!!  For the past few years it
has suffered from Spidermite and Scale inspite of being treated;  the
Spidermite is under control, but we have run out of idea for the Scale.  

        Treatment has consisted of insecticide sprays, dabbing the
pesky things with Methylated Spirits, drenching the soil with a
systemic insecticide, washing the crown in washing up liquid and picking
the Scale off by hand.  It is not a big plant, still in a 5 inch pot, and
on occasion, it has been cut right back in an attempt to rid it of pests. 
It is a resilient plant, readily regrowing when ever it is cut back, or
over run with insects, but it would be great if the Scale could be totally
illiminated - plus the chances of infecting other plants would be removed.

        Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Liz Bradbury, Scotland.
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