You’ll need to identify the exact type of scale insect that’s infesting your red maple trees in order to provide the proper treatment. Use dormant oil. Thank you so much! When to Spray With Insecticide to Kill Scale Insects . Dispose of the pruned stems immediately. 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. Scale insects are a unique group, that look quite different from other insects. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Flip over suspiciouslooking bumps on twigs and branches with a thumbnail. [1] 3. As a last resort, a much stronger azdirachtin product may help tip the scales in your favor (so to speak). They are clearly a different colour from live ones. However, there is no easy cure for a scale bug infestation. ", "Keeping an eye out for sticky residue is good to know. Spraying the immature scale with insecticidal solutions will kill the young and cause the population to die off. University of Maryland Extension, Scale Management Guidelines. Check plants for live scale infestations. Remove scale insects by hand – this is particularly effective when the number of scale insects is low. Whatever the type, get rid of the insects as soon as you are aware of their presence. Horticultural oils work by smothering the scale insects that are on the plant when it is sprayed. Treatment and control Because the hard scale is impervious to contact insecticides, the best control can be achieved using a systemic insecticide. Not all scale insects affect the growth of plants and so they do … Then, use a garden hose to wash away any loose insects. Crawlers are often not the same color as the adults of the species. Remove existing scale on houseplants by rubbing gently with a facial-quality sponge or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Scale insects hatch from eggs and typically develop through 2 nymphal instar growth stages known as “crawlers”. You should repeat the treatment weekly until it is clear of scale. Use all neem oil products by following the instructions since, as an oil, there is greater risk of … Scale insects are very adept at protecting themselves at most stages of their life cycle. Cottony cushion scales, for example, are off-white but the crawlers are orange. Look out for ants running up and down the plants, 'milking' the honeydew. Scale insects (Hemiptera spp.) If you see clusters of tiny shell-like bumps on the stems or leaves of a plant, there is a good chance you are looking at a scale. Now spray the leaves and stems with the lye. Another contentious topic, but neem oil is very effective at killing these bugs. Read our. How to protect your plants from Scale Insects. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. To Get Rid of Scale Insects: Scale insects can be difficult to get rid of but spraying with PLANT health Spectrum and/or Organic Insect Control followed by Organic Super Spraying Oil is most effective, killing scale through suffocation. Aphids, small, soft-bodied insects excrete honeydew as well. Now I know what I'm dealing with and can plan my attack! How do i treat or get rid of the scales from my Cereus Peruvianus cactus? Vitax Plant Guard Pest & Disease Control, Bug Clear for Fruit and Veg) can give good control of scale insect nymphs. Magnolia scale can be very hard to get rid of on your own. Amazon. Control measures are most effective during what is called the scale insect's "crawler stage"—the nymphs that appear soon after the eggs hatch. Scale insects are generally small (1/4 inch long or less) and often mimic various plant parts, such as bark and buds. 2. University of California Integrated Pest Management, Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener. Be sure to buy plain sponges without cleanser or lotion in them. Whenthe bump itself can be squashed it is likely to be some othertype of scale. If possible, start by carefully scraping off as many of the scale insects and their egg masses as possible. If the plant doesn’t die, but the infestation worsens, it’s the soft scale variety. Because adult scale insects are so firmly attached to their host plant and covered in their armor coating, they can be tricky to exterminate. 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. When honeydew falls from a tree, leaves shouldbe inspected for live soft scales or mealybugs. The waxy covers of this species can be observed on the lower needle surface as well as on new cones. Spray the plant with an insecticidal spray every four days or so. You will need to be extremely diligent about controlling or removing scale when it infests indoor plants. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Trustworthy Source Many types of scale insects exist, grouped into two main categories: armored scales and soft scales. Scale insects are invasive and will infest other plants, so move infested plants away from healthy ones. Repeat the treatment every four to seven days until the scales are gone. Another natural and easy-to-produce remedy for scale insects on the lemon tree is soapy water. Spraying is often more effective against the newly hatched nymphs in summer, than the shell-covered adults. As always, test on a small area first, since some plants are more sensitive than others. When a soft body is beneatha cover, the plant is likely to have live armored scales. Basic Scale Biology . Scale insects belong to a large group of sucking insects that attack a wide variety of trees and shrubs. The home made insecticide we found that works quite well is listed on our miticide recipepage and works equally well on scale. The blackish mold is one of the most visible indicators of scale. Can scaled insects live and breed in carpeting inside a house? Armored scales can kill a tree. By using our site, you agree to our. Approved. False oleander scales occur wherever sagos grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Remove existing scale on houseplants by rubbing gently with a facial-quality sponge or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. If you plan to spray, wait for settled weather with little wind and no rain. A natural and organic scale insect spray Generally, they are divided into two categories, armored (hard) and soft scale. Pine needle scale will appear to be whitish scabs on the needles and stems of the plant. Keep a close eye for several weeks to make sure no new scale appear on the plant. Spray when the weather is mild and dry. But mealybugs are somewhat larger than most scale insects, which makes them easier to identify as an insect rather than disease. Soft scale is covered with a protective waxy substance and is somewhat easier to kill than hard/armored scale. Armored scale secretes a hard shell over its body for protection from predators. As crawlers, they are highly mobile, six-legged, have no protective cover, and are usually smaller than a pinhead. When closely examining infested hemlock needles, adult males may look like tiny wasp parasitoids as they crawl across the needles. How do I tell which scale insects are which? Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. The mold grows on the sappy excrement from the scale insects. Scale insects refer to a large group of insects within the super family Coccoidea. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. Oldest botanical garden in the U.S. and center for botanical research and science education, Recognizing Scale Insects and the Damage They Cause, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Get-Rid-of-Scale-Insects-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rid-of-Scale-Insects-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Get-Rid-of-Scale-Insects-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid5525886-v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Scale-Insects-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"