Landscape entomologist Doug Caldwell shows the destructive qualities of Florida wax scale on a South Florida shrub. To manage a scale infestation, prune out branches with severe symptoms. Parasites generally provide control of many scale infestations. Males are unknown in this species. This scale will also produce honeydew, a sticky substance they excrete which can be farmed by ants, and fungi start to grow on it causing ‘sooty mould’. Don’t use oil-based sprays on ferns or fine-leafed palms. The scale insects that most gardeners are familiar with are the adult females. DAMAGE . However, a pest management program that incorporates natural, mechanical, and/or chemical controls (as described below) should provide satisfactory control of most scales on most ornamental plants. and infrequently found on other host plants. The key to scale control is timing your spray to kill the crawlers just after they hatch from the eggs in April. It’s an organic spray but, if possible, spray in the evening to avoid harming any beneficial insects in your garden. This is when the scale is at its most active because the ‘crawlers’ are on the move. Wax scale are seen more often when the weather starts to cool down in autumn, and most commonly seem to cluster around the mid ribs of leaves. Commercial soap sprays are based on potassium and will not harm beneficial insects and have a very low toxicity to people or pets. Identifying scale • There are two types of scale: ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ (or armoured). Even so, a thorough spray with the oil now on a warm afternoon may kill some percentage of the insects. The Chinese wax scale, (Ceroplastes sinensis Del, Guercio, 1900) is the most distinctive of the three species. A: I’ll bet you have wax scale. In Iowa, most species of shade trees, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks. However, do not spray in the middle of the day or in strong sunlight or high temperature as this can cause burning of the plant. Insecticidal soap sprays such as Natrasoap work by blocking the breathing pores and dissolving the scales' outer covering so they dehydrate and die. The scale is polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of plants in at least 48 families 1. Scale insects also cover themselves with waxy material that protects and hides the insect. Folks see them commonly after pruning their holly but they infest other plants, including boxwood. When I pull them off their underside is blood red. They can also be found at weaker points on a plant, such as a fork where branches divide. The scale is polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of plants in at least 48 families 1. How to protect your plants from Scale Insects. Correct timing of sprays is essential. The most common is White Wax Scale which can be seen in large patches of white waxy material along stems and shoots. Florida Wax Scale - Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock. When the scale infestation is severe, use sharp hand pruners or loppers to trim off branches and leaves which hold high concentrations of these insects. Management Others: Juniper scale (left), Dieback caused by minute cypress scale (right) Management Scale insects are difficult to control. Once you're done just press the "Submit" button to proceed. Fig wax scale feeds by inserting its stylet into host leaves, shoots, and fruit 2. Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus). Don’t use oil-based sprays on ferns or fine-leafed palms. Plus check out the latest gardening news, instore events, advice and hot product offers! Crawlers hatch around June which is the best time for control. Use carbaryl (Sevin) three times, at two-week intervals, starting in mid-April to control the baby scale as they emerge from under the adults. The eggs are laid beneath the wax coverings, ovisacs, or beneath the adult female (Figure 2). Examples of soft scale include soft brown and white wax scale. The most common is White Wax Scale which can be seen in large patches of white waxy material along stems and shoots. Each species has a different host range and life cycle. Use a pyrethrum spray only in the evening to avoid harming beneficial insects in your garden. Remove existing scale on houseplants by rubbing gently with a facial-quality sponge or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Key pests in NSW and Qld, minor pest in NT, Vic and WA Reported from over 80 plant families, mainly The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental plants, like holly. Soft scales do not have a separate protective covering whereas armoured scales do. The Treatment Model Car Wax "The Final Detail" Polishing Kit for Pocher 1/8 kits for plastics, paint, and metal surfaces "The Final Detail" Model Wax by The Treatment in economical 5 ounce jars (2 jars per order*) in stock If you've used this wax you know there's nothing like it. Spray with eco-oil to smother scale and attract natural predators. Look on olive trees, citrus or passionfruit vines and you'll probably find black scale. At this time even the old standby horticultural oil will not suffocate many of them because they are not active in cold weather. Scale insects are difficult to control. Ask a question using the form below and one of +13. Most immature soft scales retain their barely visible legs and antennae after settling and are able to move, although slowly. If 5% or more of green twigs are infested with one or more scales, the application of petroleum spray oil is appropriate. Browse and purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves, plus select titles by other authors. Scale insects are difficult to control because the waxy or cottony covering serves as a protective barrier to traditional contact insecticides. Prior to the Florida discoveries, the California Department of Food and Agriculture had intercepted specimens from Florida. The white substance is … How to Treat Scale on Shrubs. Florida wax scales along leaf veins. If you remove the “gum” the underside of the scale is pink or red. A difficult scale to control. Figure 1. If you can physically remove all of the adults, that’s a good first step. Ideally suited to organic growing programmes. Scale insects are a serious pest that excretes a substance called honeydew, which can cause the infected plant to experience a lower growth rate. The scale covers are waxy and may be so numerous that the needles have a whitewashed appearance. As a last resort, a much stronger azdirachtin product may help tip the scales in your favor (so to speak). Can’t find the solution to your problem? For these plants use a pyrethrum spray. Fig wax scale, Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus), was first discovered in Florida at several nurseries and stock dealers in 1994 and 1995. Wax scale can be 3-8mm in diameter and are white, cream, pink, or gray. Also known as waxy scale, this type of scale is known to be ‘soft scale’. Q: Down deep on my boxwood stems I have found white-looking things that are very rounded in shape. Heavy infestations may result in chlorotic spotting and premature leaf drop, wilting, and stem dieback. Adult scale insects are usually covered in waxy shell-like cover. Regular spraying on the undersides of the leaves (so it comes into direct contact with the scale) will help bring scale insects under control. Edges are flattened with convex and globular hump in the middle. Scales shoot a sweet substance called honeydew. Underneath the wax cap, the body of the scale is red. Numerous species of scale insects, typically classified as soft or armored, can attack a broad array of shrubs. The adult female of the Florida wax scale grows to about 3 mm (1/8-inch). As with all scale insects, the adults you’ve noticed protect themselves with a waxy outer coating as they suck plant sap. Indian wax scale feeds by extracting sap from the vascular system. Heavy infestations of the scale cause yellowing, loss of foliage, and poor fruit set 2. Spray plants thoroughly (until they start to drip) with Nature’s Way Citrus, Vegie and Ornamental spray. There are many scale insect species that infest ornamental landscape plants. Pruning out infested stems and branches and gently scraping the scale covers off bark are recommended. Copy the code in orange into the box below. Use carbaryl (Sevin) three times, at two-week intervals, starting in mid-April to control the baby scale as they emerge from under the adults. Nature’s Way Citrus, Vegie and Ornamental spray. Adult Florida wax scales, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock. Juveniles mainly develop in warmer months and are easier to kill because they haven’t fully developed their protective scale yet. However, none resemble the shape and size of this group of soft scale insect species in shape or size. To Get Rid of Scale Insects:. Credits: Lyle Biology and Behavior Buss, University of Florida Life cycles of the various scale species differ somewhat, but a generalized life cycle is as follows. Ask our Plant Doctors a question or upload a photo and we will get back to you with a solution in no time. A heavy infestation can cause premature leaf drop and branch dieback as well as producing large quantities of honeydew. our experts will be in touch with a solution. The best time to get rid of waxy scale in your garden is when the scale are juvenile and travelling between plants. Scale are small sap-sucking insects. Healthy plants are less likely to suffer from insects like scale. These things look like scale but are white and have no fuzz around them. Term applies to small insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Often with white lobes. A few nymphs are visible at the left. Treatment Timing is Key. If only it didn't involve more work! You need to treat the plant before the crawlers have settled and started producing their waxy coating. Plants Attacked: Wax scale has well over 50 hosts, especially Japanese and Chinese hollies, pyracantha, spirea, ivy, hemlock, euonymus, and boxwood; Description of Damage: Infestations seldom kill plants directly, but seriously weaken them, reduce growth, and cause decline. Many other species of w… The adult female is covered with a thick layer of soft wax, about 2 to 4 mm in length and 1 to 3.5 mm in width. The mature females are coated with thick layer of off-white wax that is coloured pinkish brown in patches, and has white `dry' wax in lateral and dorsal depressions. Apply Yates Natures Way Organic Citrus, Vegie Ornamental Spray Ready to Use directly on to Scale Insects. Lecanium scale – The oak lecanium scale is abundant on willow oaks and other oak species . Feed plants regularly, do what you can to improve the soil and make sure that plants are well watered. Florida wax scale is highly convex, somewhat angular, and oval. You need to treat the plant before the crawlers have settled and started producing their waxy coating. Accepted file types: jpg, png, gif, jpeg. To protect parasites, avoid spraying with insecticides during the summer. There are currently around 8000 known species of scale insects. Their red eggs are deposited under the wax coat. NOTE: There are other different types of scale and some scale insects are host specific, such as rose scale, white palm scale, gum tree scale and tea scale (camellias). These sucking insects gather on leaves and stems and can quickly build up to the point where they stunt plant growth. There are more than 25 species of scale insect found in British Gardens. 7) Calico scale, Eulecanium cerasorum. Numerous species of scale insects, typically classified as soft or armored, can attack a broad array of shrubs. These quantities of honeydew encourage black sooty mold … Pink wax scale: Ceroplastes rubens (Fig. . Many look like the scale of a fish or lizard, while others can even appear fluffy. Viewed from the top, they are rectangular, oval or lobed at the base. However, this notion is a misnomer provided that we work smarter! It has become a common pest of Ixora spp. As a last resort make organic sprays to cure particular outbreaks. Crawlers hatch around June which is the best time for control. Eggs generally hatch in 1 to 3 weeks. Scale insects can weaken and even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of the plant is rare. At the first sign of scale it’s time to act. Young wax scale, though, are camouflaged on plant stems. Getting Rid of Scale Insects. Scale insects can be difficult to get rid of but spraying with PLANThealth Spectrum and/or Organic Insect Control followed by Organic Super Spraying Oil is most effective, killing scale through suffocation. Scale are parasitic insects that measure 2 or 3mm in length and can be found on ornamental trees and shrubs this also includes indoor plants and orchards and even ferns. Try using a product like AzaMax, which is derived from neem oil naturally, inside greenhouses or indoor growing areas. All Rights Reserved. How to Treat Scale on Shrubs. It’s an organic spray but, if possible, spray in the evening to avoid harming any beneficial insects in your garden. Repeat spray if necessary. To manage a scale infestation, prune out branches with severe symptoms. Make the pruning cut about 1/4-inch above a leaf or at the base of the branch. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Scale insects are sap-feeding insects named for the scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies. There are no males. Frenetic ant activity can indicate scale-hatching periods. MORE INFORMATION: Wax Scale Fact Sheet I don’t like spraying insecticides but since these are the grandparent plants for the boxwood at the Garden Club of Georgia Headquarters in Athens, I feel a real sense of responsibility to take care of them properly. Read our top tips for growing delicious and healthy passionfruit. Indian wax scale covering Has a large host range which includes Chinese and Japanese hollies, euonymus, spirea, and boxwood. Plants Attacked: Wax scale has well over 50 hosts, especially Japanese and Chinese hollies, pyracantha, spirea, ivy, hemlock, euonymus, and boxwood; Description of Damage: Infestations seldom kill plants directly, but seriously weaken them, reduce growth, and cause decline. The wax scales are globular in shape and coated with a heavy layer of wet-looking white, beige to pinkish or gray wax. Heavy infestation can lead to the reduced vigor of the host plant. The alcohol alone should kill the scale, but the dead insects will remain on your plants and make it difficult for you to scout for new infestations. Organic growing is something that many people like, it's better for us and the environment. Soft scale (for example Pink Wax Scale and Soft Brown Scale) are usually found on the mid-rib of leaves and stalks of host plants. They feed by sucking sap and some can weaken host plants, many excrete a sticky substance (honeydew), which allows the growth of sooty moulds. Some scale species, when abundant, weaken a plant and cause it to grow slowly. Deposits of honeydew give rise to rampant growth of the black sooty mold fungus, particularly on burford and Chinese holly. The eggs are ovoid, pale purple, and resemble pollen when shaken onto a … It has been a pest of Ixoraspp. I can squash them between my fingers and they crunch a bit. Do not think “Oh it’s only a few” as there will definitely be more to follow! The best time to get rid of waxy scale in your garden is when the scale are juvenile and travelling between plants. Light to bright pink, sometimes very pale. Figure 1. Growing companion plants in and around your veggie garden is a great way to help keep your edible plants happy and healthy. There are three chemical control strategie… The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental plants, like holly. Dan Gill's Green Thumb: It isn't easy being green in hot, dry and buggy late summer. You need to treat the plant before the crawlers have settled and started producing their waxy coating. © Kings Plant Barn 2021. Found mostly on shrubs in the North as opposed to tree infestations in the South, Indian wax scale looks like someone stuck their white chewing gum in the crouch of the plant’s stems. Heavy infestations of the scale cause yellowing, loss of foliage, and poor fruit set 2. Soft scale (for example Pink Wax Scale and Soft Brown Scale) are usually found on the mid-rib of leaves and stalks of host plants. Management. The most common armoured scale is red scale… The Treatment Model Car Wax "The Final Detail" Polishing Kit for Pocher 1/8 kits for plastics, paint, and metal surfaces "The Final Detail" Model Wax by The Treatment in economical 5 ounce jars (2 jars per order*) in stock If you've used this wax you know there's nothing like it. Lecanium scale – The oak lecanium scale is abundant on willow oaks and other oak species . ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For the smaller, ‘hard scale’, click HERE. The key to scale control is timing your spray to kill the crawlers just after they hatch from the eggs in April. Although extensively distributed world-wide, the fig wax scale, Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus), was first discovered in Florida at several nursery and stock dealers in 1994 and 1995. Insecticide applications may be warranted when natural enemies and mechanical controls are not sufficient to prevent plant injury. Indian wax scale insects, Ceroplastes ceriferus, are tiny, brownish-purple females with microscopic legs and a thick covering of sticky, white wax.Wax and all, they are about 1 / 4 inch long. The brown soft scale is an exception; it has multiple generations and females and nymphs can be present throughout the year. Fig wax scale feeds by inserting its stylet into host leaves, shoots, and fruit 2. 4). Natural, botanical insecticide derived from the flowers of the pyrethrum daisy. Wax scale can be 3-8mm in diameter and are white, cream, pink, or gray. Getting Serious About Scale Treatments. Scale needs to be treated during late spring/summer between October and February/March. Kings Plant Doctors are here to help you find solutions to common insect pests, diseases and weeds in your garden. Regular spraying on the undersides of the leaves, so as to come into direct contact with the scale, will help bring scale insects under control. Even better, it works against … The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental plants, like holly. They are easier to see due to their build up of natural coating around them, which makes them harder to treat. Scale. Learn to identify the insects … MORE INFORMATION: Wax Scale Fact Sheet Use carbaryl (Sevin) three times, at two-week intervals, starting in mid-April to control the baby scale as they emerge from under the adults. Deposits of honeydew give rise to rampant growth of the black sooty mold fungus, particularly on burford and … For these plants use a pyrethrum spray.