Eeek! Looking for remedies for pest infestations? Check out the **[Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/)**. You will find varying treatment options, which may include Isopropyl Alcohol, Horticultural Oil, Horticultural Soap, Pesticides/Systemics, or a combination of said treatments.
Concerned you have pests, but aren’t sure what they are? See the links below for actual pictures of the pests in question on BugGuide.net to help you figure it out.
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watoaz
Let’s take a moment to appreciate that your plant is named “Ball of Fat”.
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Eeek! Looking for remedies for pest infestations? Check out the **[Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/)**. You will find varying treatment options, which may include Isopropyl Alcohol, Horticultural Oil, Horticultural Soap, Pesticides/Systemics, or a combination of said treatments.
Concerned you have pests, but aren’t sure what they are? See the links below for actual pictures of the pests in question on BugGuide.net to help you figure it out.
**[Aphids](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=aphids&search=Search)** come in either green or black or red/brown. **[Mealybugs](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=mealybug)** are white or gray, and appear fuzzy. **[Scale insects](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=scale+insect)** present as uniform shaped raised bumps, that can generally be picked off without damage to the plant. **[Fungus gnats](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=fungus+gnat&search=Search)** are small black flying insects. On their own, they’re not harmful, but can be in large infestations. **[Thrips](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=thrips)** are very small, and long and skinny. **[Spider mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tetranychidae)** are microscopically small, and are usually present in large numbers and webbings. Don’t mistake red spiders for spider mites, spiders are helpful, and will eat bad pests! **[Flat Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tenuipalpidae+&search=Search)** are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Damage will appear as a burn-like appearance on either the leaf margin or where the leaf connects to the stem; and can be present on the stem as well. Damage examples can be found [linked in our Pest wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/#wiki_false_spider_mites.2C_aka_flat_mites).
Harmless bugs are often in soil. For example, **[Springtails](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Springtails&search=Search)** or **[Orobatid Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Oribatida&search=Search)** are often in soils and just eat decaying organic matter. They do not hurt living plants.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/succulents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Let’s take a moment to appreciate that your plant is named “Ball of Fat”.