scale insect on clematis

armeria

last year my clematis alpina 'Frankie' was covered in brown scale insects all up the stems.  I sprayed them with Provado, but how doo you know when they are dead??  They look dead anyway and they haven't dropped off.  Now that its the right time to prune it, I was wondering whether to cut the whole plant down to the ground and let it grow up again.  Any ideas?

Alina W

They should brush off the stems, or ping off with a fingernail.

armeria

 Thank you, Alina.  I'll see if they come off in the morning.  If they don't, I'll prune out the stems with them on, I think.