scale are unusual - looking insect that can infect a variety of plants , including oak trees . These dirt ball suckle the sap from tree diagram and other shrub . Almost every metal money of oak can be bear upon by scales . They will not unremarkably harm the plant unless the plague is heavy , which can wipe out off branch and even vote out young tree .

Types

Three types of scales can affect oaks : armoured , obscure or pit . unknown plate ( Melanaspis obscura ) are armored scales , which means they have a small ( less than 1/8 column inch in diameter ) , flattened , platelike back . Soft scale are slenderly larger , about 1/4 inches long , and bland , cottony or waxy . Kermes scales ( Kermes spp . ) and lecanium scales ( Eulecanium spp . ) are diffuse scale of measurement . Pit scale are about 1/4 to 1/2 inches in diameter and include the oak pit scale ( Asterolecanium spp . ) and Ehrhorn ’s oak scale ( Mycetococcus ehrhorni ) .

Symptoms

Symptoms of scurf plague are not always apparent . Leaves may appear wilted , turn white-livered and then degenerate untimely , or a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree may not leaf out until afterward in the spring . Wilting typically occurs at the end of branches first . The barque of infected limbs may crack and be covered with gum or honeydew melon . This honeydew often infect with a jet-black mold that attracts emmet . perdition plate will produce gang - like gibbosity on the barque .

Controlling

These insects are soft to kill when they are young and still in the crawler stage or in the give when nymphs first become alive . At that sentence , these insects can be killed using an ultrafine oil , Acephate , cyfluthrin , horticultural oil , permethrin , insecticidal soap or malathion plus carbaryl . Sprays should be used according to the directions listed on the bottleful for other pests .

Natural Enemies

The best control for scales is to encourage their natural enemies in your garden . Various beetle and white Anglo-Saxon Protestant are known to feed on them . Unfortunately , ants seek the scale secretion honeydew or dust-covered status can reduce the population of these natural enemies . In some cases , it may be necessary to ensure the ants that feed on the honeydew and protect the scale from these enemies .

Other Control Methods

Unfortunately , there is very little information about scale - resistant oak cultivars . However , Daniel Gilrein , a gardening medical specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension , suggests replacing scale - prostrate tree diagram with another species that might be less susceptible . Other control method include limiting fertiliser , especially nitrogen , on infested trees , pruning or scrubbing limb that are heavy infested or power - wash scale from the tree .

References

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