Sugar pearls? Anyone seen these before?

BalconyBuds · Mar 14, 2026

During defoliation I discovered these small solid opaque objects on some of the leaf backs and stems. After looking on the microscope I don’t think they are barnacle scales. I carefully scraped one off and dropped it into a shot glass with distilled water and after a few seconds it began to rapidity spin. In a few seconds it completely disappeared. After some more research I’m thinking they are harmless secretions maybe due to nutrients. Any thoughts?

Oldchucky · Mar 14, 2026

BalconyBuds said:
During defoliation I discovered these small solid opaque objects on some of the leaf backs and stems. After looking on the microscope I don’t think they are barnacle scales. I carefully scraped one off and dropped it into a shot glass with distilled water and after a few seconds it began to rapidity spin. In a few seconds it completely disappeared. After some more research I’m thinking they are harmless secretions maybe due to nutrients. Any thoughts?

Got no idea! Nothing but guesses! But I would lean towards something putting it there! Maybe some honeydew or eggs of some kind! We’ll see if anything hatches!

MercDod · Mar 15, 2026

Never have I ever.

Grownsince95 · Mar 15, 2026

I would say 99% chance it didn't come from the plant. My first thought was also scale bugs. If you see any more, put some isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip and dab one. If it changes color/turns to mush it's scale.

cpurola · Mar 15, 2026

Is it possible that it's sap, oozing out of a tiny wound?

BalconyBuds · Mar 15, 2026

Grownsince95 said:
I would say 99% chance it didn't come from the plant. My first thought was also scale bugs. If you see any more, put some isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip and dab one. If it changes color/turns to mush it's scale.

Will have to try this.

grayoldnproud · Mar 15, 2026

Insect. Whitefly maybe. Have you seen anything flying around your plants? Shake it. If anything flies off you may have your answer.

Ninjadogma · Mar 15, 2026

Grownsince95 said:
I would say 99% chance it didn't come from the plant. My first thought was also scale bugs. If you see any more, put some isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip and dab one. If it changes color/turns to mush it's scale.

I had some scale bugs hit habanero pepper plants. Difficult to eradicate. Under magnification they reminded me of armor plated aphids, or bugs made out of stone. Weed does do strange things though. There's a strain called Carbon Fiber that leaves hard black resin deposits in the calyxes that look like charcoal. And then there's blood red guttation...

But my best guess is you know those tiny little chalky winged moths that sneak in the tent and hover around the light? looks like it could be one of their eggs.

BalconyBuds · Mar 15, 2026

Haven’t seen any insects of any kind,will keep an eye out.

Oldchucky · Mar 15, 2026

But I would like to commend you on your optimistic labeling of them!

BalconyBuds · Mar 15, 2026

BalconyBuds said:
Will have to try this.

Tired the q-tip with ISO it stayed white and crumbled into solid grains.

OldBoy25pnw · Mar 16, 2026

After looking at the pics I am leaning hard on the insect thought, there were two pics at the top of photos that made me think whitefly, there was an obvious spot with a coronal haze around it which is what you see on many crops susceptible to those little pests.
I don’t grow indoors but I would really monitor that crop to see what you are up against and figure out your best / safest action plan might be
Good luck

Cfin · Mar 16, 2026

Possibly a green lacewing cocoon

grayoldnproud · Mar 16, 2026

Here is why I also thought whitefly.

From "MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR COMMON ARTHROPOD PESTS OF GREENHOUSE HEMP IN INDIANA"
Zachary Serber and Elizabeth Y. Long, Department of Entomology

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

This bulletin provides an overview of common insect and mite pests of hemp in greenhouse environments, including their biology, signs and symptoms of damage, and management strategies to prevent pest population outbreaks.

extension.entm.purdue.edu

BalconyBuds · Mar 16, 2026

grayoldnproud said:
Here is why I also thought whitefly.

From "MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR COMMON ARTHROPOD PESTS OF GREENHOUSE HEMP IN INDIANA"
Zachary Serber and Elizabeth Y. Long, Department of Entomology

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

This bulletin provides an overview of common insect and mite pests of hemp in greenhouse environments, including their biology, signs and symptoms of damage, and management strategies to prevent pest population outbreaks.

extension.entm.purdue.edu

View attachment 2614482

Hmmm those are probably the most similar thing Iv seen so far. Those appear to be more tan/translucent rather than solid white. However I am pretty damn colorblind

grayoldnproud · Mar 16, 2026

BalconyBuds said:
Hmmm those are probably the most similar thing Iv seen so far. Those appear to be more tan/translucent rather than solid white. However I am pretty damn colorblind

No matter what they are I bet they aren't good to have around So best of luck in ridding yourself of them.

amneziaHaze · Mar 16, 2026

i once had a plant covered with ants and it had little drops of something amber color it did taste sweet

Oldchucky · Mar 16, 2026

amneziaHaze said:
i once had a plant covered with ants and it had little drops of something amber color it did taste sweet

Ants farm and protect aphids and collect their honeydew! Whatever the OP has going on, seems to be far from an infestation! Could always pull a couple of leaves off that have the things on them and put them in a jar with holes in the lid and see if something hatches! Like back in the childhood days!

JIMKSI64 · Mar 16, 2026

Oldchucky said:
Ants farm and protect aphids and collect their honeydew! Whatever the OP has going on, seems to be far from an infestation! Could always pull a couple of leaves off that have the things on them and put them in a jar with holes in the lid and see if something hatches! Like back in the childhood days!

So you have any idea how many science fiction movies and books started this way?
Hell back in the day 50 years ago there was a school library book about a kid hatching an egg.

Dude grew a triceratops.
Then of course we all saw what happens with space eggs.

So you go ahead and hatch that egg.
World needs another Kaiju anyways......

BalconyBuds · Mar 16, 2026

Oldchucky said:
Ants farm and protect aphids and collect their honeydew! Whatever the OP has going on, seems to be far from an infestation! Could always pull a couple of leaves off that have the things on them and put them in a jar with holes in the lid and see if something hatches! Like back in the childhood days!

I’m definitely gonna do this, hopefully noting hatches. Probably gonna put the jar in a separate room just to be safe from insects or face huggers I guess.

Sugar pearls? Anyone seen these before?

Sugar pearls? Anyone seen these before?

BalconyBuds

Attachments

Oldchucky

MercDod

Grownsince95

🤘😆👍

cpurola

BalconyBuds

grayoldnproud

Ninjadogma

BalconyBuds

Oldchucky

BalconyBuds

OldBoy25pnw

Cfin

grayoldnproud

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

BalconyBuds

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

grayoldnproud

amneziaHaze

Oldchucky

JIMKSI64

BalconyBuds

Sugar pearls? Anyone seen these before?

Sugar pearls? Anyone seen these before?

BalconyBuds

Attachments

Oldchucky

MercDod

Grownsince95

🤘😆👍

cpurola

BalconyBuds

grayoldnproud

Ninjadogma

BalconyBuds

Oldchucky

BalconyBuds

OldBoy25pnw

Cfin

grayoldnproud

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

BalconyBuds

Management Strategies For Common Arthropod Pests of Greenhouse Hemp In Indiana

grayoldnproud

amneziaHaze

Oldchucky

JIMKSI64

BalconyBuds

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency