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| Scale Insects |
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These small insects are generally most troublesome on greenhouse and house plants, but certain species attack ornamental shrubs and trees and fruit grown outdoors.
Infestations are often first noticed when the leaves become sticky and sooty
Close examination of stems and leaves may reveal the waxy brown, yellow or white scales that frequently form thick encrusting colonies.
These scales are the female insects, which remain in the same position for most of their lives.
Eggs are laid under the scales, and only the newly hatched young scales, commonly known as crawlers move actively over plants and spread infestations.
Control is obtained by spraying with a suitable insecticide when the crawlers are hatching.
In heated greenhouses this can be at any time of year, but in the open and in un-heated greenhouses infestations usually occur during the summer.
Alternatively one can use natural predators such as chilocorus nigritus
Thorough spraying with a tar oil winter wash in December or January gives good control of scales on deciduous trees and shrubs, including fruit.
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