Scale insects appear as small raised bumps on the twig or leaf. A&M has identified this pest as Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, and suspects that it was brought into the U.S. on a crape myrtle plant. Neem oil products work by suffocating the insect. Close-up of Azalea bark scale egg masses on infested branches blackened by sooty mold. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. Make cover spray applications when scale crawlers first emerge. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. This information is for educational purposes only. The azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleas, is a prominent pest of rhododendron, azalea, and huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.). Azalea Bark Scale – This azalea plant pest occurs most often in the eastern United States. I purchased some horticulture oil this morning from Lowes but I'm skeptical about it's effectiveness of getting rid of mature bark scale. Azalea bark scale – (737) Oak lecanium scale – (789) Beech scale – (800) Japanese maple scale – (829) Calico scale – (834) Cottony maple scale – (850) European fruit lecanium scale – (940 DD) Summertime scale treatment options. Eggs, crawlers and adults under the wax are red. First, after its leaves drop, apply dormant oil to the trunks and branches. This sap-sucking scale can cause serious harm to your favorite Azalea or Rhododendron. Can I use Pivot 10 for azalea bark scale?Cottony maple/taxus scale? As with most insects, there are several life stages and the appearance of CMBS changes with the stages. Leafminer. Azalea Bark Scale Diagnostic Guide; Azalea Lace Bug Diagnostic Guide; Azalea Whitefly Diagnostic Guide; Bagworms Diagnostic Guide; ... Each one contains signs and symptoms, treatment strategies, and treatment expectations designed to help you properly diagnose diseases and provide effective solutions. Spray after the azaleas are done blooming to avoid spraying over bees and other pollinators, and to avoid flower injury. Scale insects feed on bark or leaves, producing red or yellow spotting on the leaf or bark of twigs. Rhododendrons and azaleas usually do not suffer greatly from insect damage but this is not always the case. Many people who call us describe their trees as covered in white dots, or white cotton like bumps. Dilute the concentrate version at 3 fl oz per gallon of water and directly spray onto the bark to control the nymphs before they become adults. Beneficial predators and parasites will usually provide adequate control of light bark scale infestations. Q&A related to Azalea Bark Scale. ; What is the ratio of Hi-Yield 55% Malathion Insecticide Spray to kill mulberry caterpillars? Consider hand–removal by squishing the scales to prevent populations from increasing. A scale infestation is indicated by sooty mold on leaves, yellowing of leaves, and twig dieback. https://www.giroudtree.com Azalea Bark Scale can destroy beautiful Azalea shrubs. PHI 7 days. This will suffocate adults and many small “crawlers”. We recommend using Organocide 3-in-1 Garden Spray to control azalea bark scale. This means that southeast and southwest Michigan are borderline climates for growing azaleas, and planting anywhere else in Michigan will require excellent winter protection. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. However, another threat to azaleas, as well as rhododendron and Pieris or andromedas, is azalea bark scale (Eriococcus azaleae). Soft Scales Found on Trees and Shrubs - The following are examples of commonly found scale insects that infest deciduous, broadleaf, and evergreen plants. Check out the Agribusiness Management B.S. Scale. Beneficial insects, such as wasps, control scale population. Treatment with horticultural oil … We will continuously be adding to this list. Because imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that is absorbed through the roots and moves up into the foliage, some insecticide may move into the flowers. What should I do? Branch dieback. Scraping the scales off of the rhododendron effectively eliminates them. Next, in late March, apply a systemic insecticide called Bioadvanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control to all your crepe myrtles according to label directions. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Immature scales, 0.0625-0.125 (1/16-1/8) inches long, overwinter on the stem, maturing quickly the next spring in late May. This can be a difficult pest to control and it may take m… A: You have a big infestation of cottony cushion scale. The crawler stage of azalea bark scale soon after egg hatch. RTS = Ready to Spray (hose-end applicator) RTU = Ready to Use (pre-mixed spray bottle) Drench = Add to water and pour around base of plant. Leaf yellowing is often visible after June or July. Rhododendrons and azaleas are some of the most popular spring-flowering shrubs in the landscape, and healthy plants can give years of pleasure. This will smother both adult and immature scales. Affected shrubs may be covered with sooty mold or appear as white, cottony masses within the forks of branches. Heavy infestations can be sprayed again two weeks later. At dormant or delayed-dormant, use with a horticultural oil. CMBS might be able to overwinter in the adult female and egg life stages, and crawlers and later stage nymphs have been observed overwintering under the loose bark and in cracks and crevices of crapemyrtles in our area. Post by ECUPirate » April 8th, 2015, 9:24 am Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get rid of bark scale on azaleas? Eggs are laid in the spring and hatch from late June through July. Are pesky Azalea bark scales attacking your blueberry plants? Hosts include andromeda, azalea, rhododendron, hawthorn, poplar, willow, and most recently, blueberry in the Pacific Northwest. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). If scales are juicy, they are alive. Female insects are approximately 0.125 inches long. Warning : Horticultural chemicals tend to work because they are harmful. 2). Research is underway at this time to determine if enough imidacloprid will be present in the following year (one year after a basal drench is made) to be detrimental to bees when the azaleas are blooming. Dr. Smitley’s work is funded in part by MSU’s AgBioResearch. Females produce white, waxy egg masses in late June to early July. Photo credit: Oregon State University. To break their life cycle, spray once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. Photo credit: Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org. An oil spray applied after the crawlers emerge is usually very effective in controlling azalea bark scale, but keep checking each year and spray again when necessary. This is a pest that generally does not kill hosts, rather it causes aesthetic damage. Later in summer or next spring you can determine if any live scales are present by using a fingernail to scrape off some of the crusty buildup on the stems. It is one of the only scales known to infest crape myrtles. 4 through 6). Spray after the azaleas are done blooming to avoid spraying over bees and other pollinators, and to … It also leaves a micro-film on the plant that will repel egg laying females because they know it’s harmful to their eggs. Dead scales may remain on stems for a year or more. Two weeks later spray acetamiprid (Ortho Fruit … Adult – The adult female azalea bark scale is dark red with short legs and antennae and long, sucking mouth- parts. Bark scale originates from China and was brought to the U.S. in 2010. Spray the adult scales so Organocide 3-in-1 Garden Spray will slide under their bodies and block their spiracles (breathing holes) causing them to suffocate. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleae Comstock, can be found on a variety of hosts grown in nurseries and landscapes including azalea, rhododendron, andromeda, hawthorn, poplar, willow, and most recently, it has been found infesting blueberries in the Pacific northwest. Scales are only vulnerable to insecticides during the immature phase before they have created the white coating. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. So in Michigan, when we grow azaleas we are usually focused on finding protected sites and providing winter protection by covering the ground over the roots with mulch and draping protective burlap over the entire plant. Treatment is in two parts: spray under all leaves and around all stems thoroughly with horticultural oil. Several other products are also available that contain imidacloprid. One product with good directions on the label for applying imidacloprid as a drench is Bayer Tree and Shrub Insect Control. Follow their label safety precautions such as gloves and other protective measures to avoid personal harm, and follow their label rates of dilution and application to avoid harm to the plants and environment. Examine the bark of host plants to determine when or if the crawlers are active to help in the timing of any needed treatments. Azalea Bark Scale, Eriococcus azaleas, was discovered in 1881 and is a major yearly pest for Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Huckleberries.Although the pest usually does not kill the host tree, it causes aesthetic damage, weakens the tree, and can cause honeydew and sooty mold to develop. They could also be mealy bugs, a scale-like insect pest with visible legs that doesn't move around much. Identifying azalea bark scale early gives an advantage in treatment. Protect bees and other pollinators by waiting until after the shrubs are done blooming before applying the basal soil drench. (Possibly two in southern states), Leaf yellowing is often visible after June or July, Sooty mold growing on honeydew can be found under tree or on limbs, White waxy threads of the females egg sac near twig crotches prior to June or July, Small winged adults males are generally on leaves around August through September, Crawlers are reddish, tiny, mobile, and typically found around June or July. If azalea bark scale is found, Michigan State University Extension recommends spraying infested plants with a 2 percent concentration of a horticultural oil in mid-July. An alternative treatment for azalea bark scale is a basal soil drench with imidacloprid. If the crusty residue is dry and flaky, the scales are dead. Use all neem oil products by following the instructions since, as an oil, there is greater risk of … Crape myrtle bark scale is relatively easy to identify. Coating azalea leaves with insecticidal soap is also an effective treatment, as is spraying the plants with horticultural oil. More information on successfully growing azaleas and rhododendrons is available in the fact sheets HGIC 1059, Azalea Care; HGIC 1058, Azalea Planting; and … Honeydew can be an inconvenience as well. The use of insecticide requires careful timing and close adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions. If there are no yellowing leaves, no treatment is necessary. Dave Smitley, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Entomology - pyriproxyfen (Esteem) at 0.1 lb ai/a. Symptoms of their sucking include honeydew, sooty mold, and considerable leaf yellowing and die back. Insecticidal soap, made from potassium salt of fatty acids, works by penetrating and destroying the outer shell or membrane of the insect causing it to dehydrate and die. The insect is hidden from view by the egg sac, a covering of felted or matted waxy threads ().The sac is about 3 mm long and 1.5 mm thick. The red eggs are laid within the egg sac, occupying the void left by Bark Scale Treatment on Azaleas. The scale insects have long, needle-like mouthparts they insert into the plant for sucking plant juices. Larvae hatching from the eggs are called "crawlers" because they are the most mobile life stage of the scale insect. Azalea bark scale (Acanthococcus azaleae) infestations can be severe. Show your Spartan pride and give the gift of delicious MSU Dairy Store cheese this holiday season! Scale produces a waxy coating that makes them difficult to kill. Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control (imidacloprid) provides season-long, systemic control of azalea bark scale. Mature female scale are about 0.13 inch long and appear like white cottony sacs, often located on twigs and stems of azalea, especially in branch axils. DESCRIPTION. Bark scales Azalea bark scales cause yellowing and a soot or mold appearance on stems. Summer oil and other insecticides can be used in mid-June or early July for the crawlers. Many diseases and other problems can be prevented by following the recommended cultural practices for proper planting and care. If they're not moving around, small, fuzzy, white caterpillars might be one of the thousands of species of scale. The insect is hidden from view by the egg sac (ovisac), a covering of felted/matted waxy threads (Fig. A late-winter or early-spring soil drench of imidacloprid systemic insecticide around your azaleas can control azalea bark scales for an entire growing season. This product is mixed in a bucket of water and poured around the base of the shrub. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Contact your local county extension office for treatment methods. If scales appear again in two weeks repeat spraying for another week. Apply either at dormant or delayed-dormant for the overwintering stage, or as an in-season cover spray for control of the crawlers. Spray late in … Thanks! A more complete list of azalea problems is at azalea diagnosis. White waxy threads of the females egg sac near twig crotches prior to June or July. I think they are Azalea Bark Scale. Infested stems and leaves under infested stems may also turn black from the black, sooty mold fungus that grows on the sugary liquid waste excreted by the scale insects. Photo credit: A.L. Winter-hardy azaleas are promoted as suitable for cold hardiness zones 6 or higher. 1) Azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azalea. Up close, CMBS is white t… program! The sac is about 3 mm long and 1.5 mm thick. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When crushed, these scales exude pink “blood”-like liquid. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. To treat, eliminate the insects and prune any dead or dying parts of the plant. Azalea bark scale. The white cotton-looking insects show up in limb and twig crotches. Eggs are deposited into the white waxy egg sac in late April, Crawlers prefer branch crotches and twigs where they insert their mouthparts, There is one generation per year. Antonelli, Close-up of azalea bark scale egg masses. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Bark Scale along the branch of a Crape Myrtle. Sooty mold growing on honeydew can be found under tree or on limbs. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. June 2, 2015. Scale sounds and looks a lot like a plant disease, but the term actually refers to infestation by any one of more than 7,000 species of tiny sap-sucking insects.Scale insects typically adhere to the stems, branches, and sometimes the leaves of plants to feed on sap, and they have a shell-like bump appearance, which sometimes causes them to be mistaken for a fungal or bacterial disease. Adult females are felt-like white or gray encrustations that stick to crape myrtle parts ranging from small twigs to large trunks. If your azalea shrub has thinning or dead branches, look for a crusty covering of scale insects on the stems. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. It has been reported in the Eastern US, as well as Belgium and Russia. There is one generation per year in Michigan. Rhododendron Borer. Scale treatment options If azalea bark scale is found, Michigan State University Extension recommends spraying infested plants with a 2 percent concentration of a horticultural oil in mid-July. ; Will Zylam Liquid Systemic Insecticide work on the Crape Myrtle Bark Scale? In one year, there could be at least two generations of CMBS. If the canopy of your azalea is thinning or yellowing in places or has some dead branches, look for a crusty covering of scale insects on the stems, or white, waxy egg masses produced by the females (see photos). Crawlers attach to the bark and feed in crevices and branch forks. Do not apply oil sprays when the temperature is above 90 °F or to drought-stressed plants. ; Would Captain Jacks Deadbug Brew Concentrate be effective for treating Azalea Bark Scale? Azalea bark scales. It is applied as a soil drench around the base of affected plants … Azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleas Comstock, Eriococcidae, HEMIPTERA. Good culture practices are a key element of keeping plants resistant to bugs and germs. Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus Recognition and Life Cycle The adult females (1/8 inch) with their white egg sacs are most noticeable in May and June. On new growth and in heavy infestations, the scales may be distributed more uniformly on the branch (Figs. 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