Scouting for scale in the Winter is great use of your time.
Scale comes in many shapes, sizes and varieties. Last year we saw Oyster Shell, Calico, Juniper, Greedy, Bamboo, Fletcher, Japanese maple, Pine Needle, Brown, Putnam, Euonymus and Magnolia Scale.
Scale is sometimes hard to see when a plant is in full foliage. But in the winter with no leaves on trees and shrubs, except evergreen, scale are easier to see.
Scouting scale in the winter makes sense because there is less to care for outside in the landscape. The following pictures are Scale images on the corresponding tree or shrub they infested.
Putnam Scale on Pieris
Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Euonymus Scale on Euonymus
Juniper scale on Juniper
Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Fletcher Scale on Taxus
J.A. Davidson, Univ. Md, College Pk, Bugwood.org
Brown Scale on Ilex
United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs , USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Terapin Scale
Pine Needle Scale on Pines
Japanese Maple Scale on Maples
Central Science Laboratory, Harpenden , British Crown, Bugwood.org
Scale on Pachysandra
Lesley Ingram, Bugwood.org
Calico Scale on Honeylocust
Oyster Shell Scale on Roses
Magnolia Scale on Magnolia
So nothing to do on a snowy day………………..go scouting for scale.
And take along pen and paper. You’ll want to write down plant and location so you can return to treat with dormant oil or insecticides as the label recommends. Happy Scouting
