The adult females (1/8 inch) with their white egg sacs are most noticeable in May and June. Many of these insects also cause damage to azalea and mountain laurel. Scale produces a waxy coating that makes them difficult to kill. The azalea lacebug, Stepha- nitis pyrioides Scott, (Fig. Scale insects are major pests on ornamental trees, orchards, indoor plants and even ferns. Females cover themselves with wax and eggs, crawlers and females beneath the wax are reddish. This sap-sucking scale can cause serious harm to your favorite Azalea or Rhododendron. Posted by Mr. Chris Brewer. (Photo by United States National Collection of Scale Insects, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org) Crapemyrtle bark scale has been confirmed in Alabama The new scale insect may be Eriococcus lagerostroemia, which feeds on Lagerostroemia indica in Japan and China. For biology, life history, monitoring and management. Many of these insects also cause damage to azalea and mountain laurel. Symptoms of their sucking include honeydew, sooty mold, and considerable leaf yellowing and die back. Some common species of scale insects in Australia are pink wax scale, black scale, soft brown scale and citrus red scale. Scale Download a PDF of this article Plants Affected. Includes. The azalea bark scale is a closely related species, but it has not been observed infesting crape myrtles. If you have “sap” dripping from your tree it is honeydew and is a telltale sign of an insect infestation. Host Plants: – These insects have been found on more than twenty different plant species including blueberry, andromeda, arborvitae, azalea, hackberry, hawthorn , maple, poplar, rhododendron, sweetgum and willow. See: Azalea (Rhododendron)-Azalea bark scale. )f azaleas. Azalea Bark Scale. Loading... Autoplay When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. Video shows close ups of Azalea Bark scale and provides some plant inspection tips. Unhealthy and weak plants sustain more injury from scale insects than strong plants. To treat, eliminate the insects and prune any dead or dying parts of the plant. Azalea Bark Scale. Scale insects Usually found on twigs or branches. Cottony azalea scale is another soft scale insect that is most commonly found here in the Northeast on rhododendrons, azaleas and Pieris species. Some look like bits of white cotton; others are brownish. Azalea lace bugs feed on leaves, creating speckled areas on the leaf surface. The "bumps" may be brown or marbled brown and white. This application will smother the scale before the insects have a chance to form their protective coating. It's important to treat the entire plant, as scale can be present on stems, the undersides of leaves, and along the base of the plant. Many of them are agricultural pests, while others prey on trees or other plant life. They feed on the plant tissue by sucking the sap from leaves, stalks and stems, which can result in stunted plant growth, defoliation, and even death of the plant. See "Scale insect" in: Common Landscape Pests Scales are so unusual looking that most people don’t recognize them as insects. Azalea bark scale (Acanthococcus azaleae) infestations can be severe. Insects | Tree Care | Aphids | Azalea Bark Scale | Black Sooty Mold | Honeydew | Crepe Myrtles. Azalea bark scales overwinter on older twigs and branches, under a white, felt-like egg sac about 6-12 mm in diameter. Hosts include andromeda, azalea, rhododendron, hawthorn, poplar, willow, and most recently blueberries. Lecanium scale found on woody plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons. The scale excretes honeydew that coats leaves and limbs, resulting in a sticky coating from the excess sugars excreted from the insects’ feeding. Recognition and Life Cycle. One of the first signs of an azalea bark scale infestation is a black (sooty mold) coating that appears on the bark of the trunk and on the branches of crape myrtles (see picture). The oil coats the scale insects and clogs their breathing pores, suffocating them. “One of the first signs of an azalea bark scale infestation is a black (sooty mold) coating that appears on the bark of the trunk and on the branches of crape myrtles. Treating Azalea Bark Scale. When numbers are high, they appear crust-like. Damage Symptoms: Azalea bark scale has become recognized as a prominent pest of azaleas. As this azalea pest feeds, she secretes a honeydew along the azalea. Fletcher scale, Lecanium fletcheri Lecanium sp. Ew, scale insects! The rhododendron is a commonly used landscape plant that has a specific complex of pests. Bark scales. Scales: Several species of scale insects feed upon the rhododendron complex. Leaves and limbs may feel sticky from byproducts of the insect’s feeding. Pest description and crop damage Lecanium scales overwinter on twigs and branches under a hard, helmet-like, reddish-brown covering, which is about 6-8 mm in diameter. Rhododendron Borers and Rhododendron Stem Borers Common Insect Pests of Rhododendron. The insects appear as white, waxy encrustations. This insect can be mistaken for azalea bark scale that also can be found on the above mentioned plants. In fact, crapemyrtle bark scale was initially thought to be this insect. Azalea bark scales cause yellowing and a soot or mold appearance on stems. Peony Scale Azalea Whitefly Azalea Leaf Miner Red Mite (Spider) Yellow Mite----- Leaf ... AZALEA INSECTS Azalea Lacebug Importance and Type of Injury. This scale lives and thrives on crape myrtle, suggesting a different identity for it. The most likely culprit is a scale insect found in China, Japan, and Korea. Nymphs (juveniles) are similarly coloured, but smaller and spiny in appearance, and they undergo a number of moults before they reach maturity. This scale has been reported on hawthorn, Andromeda, poplar, willow and ornamental cherry trees. Azalea bark scale is a species very similar in appearance to crapemyrtle bark scale. Examples include brown soft scale, lecanium scale, azalea bark scale, magnolia scale and tuliptree scale. They can appear in various colors and shapes. Image 5119028 is of azalea bark scale (Eriococcus azaleae ) adult(s) on willow. These are often found on branches or trunks. Infested plants usually appear chlorotic and unthrifty. Adults are 4–6mm long, and mottled black and tan. The discussion of the following insects will focus on recognition and life cycles, damage, monitoring and control options: Azalea Bark Scale, Erlococcus azalene. Azalea bark scale (Eriococcus azaleae) Lecanium scale (Lecanium spp.) … Azalea bark scale shown on an azalea also may be found on rhododendrons. The azalea bark scale has been recorded in the eastern United States and also in Belgium, Germany, and Russia. Leaves and limbs may feel sticky. Putnam scales are small (1-2 mm at maturity) (Figure 6) and have a flattened, plate-like cover that can be removed to reveal the insect underneath. Print Image. If large numbers are present, they may stunt or cause dieback on plants. Dimethoate (Cygon) can be used. The discussion of the following insects will focus on recognition and life cycles, damage, monitoring and control options. A more complete list of azalea problems is at azalea diagnosis. It affects rhododendron family plants, including azaleas. Oystershell scale Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.) Magnolia scale, Neolecanium cornuparvum (Thro. ) Up close, the azalea bark scale-insect is white to gray in color. Azalea bark scale is a third insect pest of azalea. Rhododendron scales feed on the sap of the plant. Categories. Figure 22. They can be cottony, smooth or waxy – but they do not produce a thick protective waxy covering separate from the body. Scale insects feed on bark or leaves, producing red or yellow spotting on the leaf or bark of twigs. Azalea bark scale Photo: United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Eriococcus azalea (soft scale) produces a white eggsac full of eggs. Fiorinia hemlock scale, Fiorinia externa Ferris Scurfy scale, Chionaspis furfura ( Fitch) Oleander scale, … Scale. Blackened branches made so by honeydew and mold, eventually sicken and die, as does the female when her egg sac is full. Both adults and nymphs cause damage by sucking juices from the under-side of the leaves. Azalea Bark Scale (Acanthococcus azaleae) Family Erioccicdae Plants Damaged: This scale is a pest of azaleas and rhododendrons. It is by United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs at USDA Agricultural Research Service. 1) is a major pst ! Whether flat against leaves or fruit, or lumpy bumps on branches or stems, this widespread superfamily of insects is well over 8000 species strong. Why Are My Crepe Myrtle Stems and Leaves Turning Black? Azalea bark scale insects (Eriococcus azaleae Comstock), discovered in the United States in 1881, have earned a reputation as significant azalea pests. Azalea Bark Scale Symptom – Honeydew: Honeydew is the excrement of plant-sucking insects such as Azaela bark scale. Small infestations may be scraped off and discarded. Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) is an introduced insect. This insect produces a white or cottony sac that is often found attached in the axils of twigs and leaves during May to June and September through October. Symptoms/Damage. Trees do not drip sap. Like soft scales, these secrete honeydew, so sooty mold is often seen when felt scales infest a plant. The azalea bark scale is tiny, but her effect, as seen on your azaleas turning black, is terrible. Collector: R.J. Gill et al. All types of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs. Azalea bark scale ( Eriococcus azaleae) Comst. When first discovered in the United States, this insect was identified as the azalea bark scale (Eriococcus azalea); however, crape myrtle has never before been reported as a host plant for azalea bark scale. Oyster-shell scales appear, as the name depicts, as small, hard oystershells on the bark. Date of photograph or collection: 04/07/1980 Soft scale insects typically have one generation per year and generally are larger in size though there are many variations in size, shape and color (figure 4). The white cotton-looking insects show up in limb and twig crotches. Azalea Bark Scale (Erlococcus azalene) Recognition and Life Cycle Females are approximately 1/8-inch long and covered with a white, waxy egg sac. Azalea bark scale is most easily recognized by the white cottony sacs (Figure 4) that protect the developing pink eggs underneath (Figure 5). These include Lecanium scale, oystershell scale, azalea bark scale, and several unknown species. Rhododendron scale disease is actually caused by an insect, Eriococcus azaleae, commonly called azalea bark scale. Pest Control for Azaleas. If Azalea Bark Scale, the vulnerable stage (called "crawlers") tend to appear around late May to early June (on average, in our area) and again in mid-July. Members of the rhododendron family, azaleas are hardy flowering shrubs with large, colorful flowers. Many homeowners confuse honeydew with sap. Azalea bark scale insects produce a white, felted covering for their eggs. Lace bugs/Spider mites. European elm scale, Gossyparia spuria (Modeer) Beech bark scale, Cryptococcus fagi (Baer.) Scale insects appear as small raised bumps on the twig or leaf. Malathion or acephate (Orthene) can be used as spray during crawler stage. Scale insects can overwinter as nymphs or eggs tucked away in tree bark. Infested azaleas usually appear chlorotic, and severe infestation of azalea bark scale can weaken or kill your azaleas. Azalea bush attacked by lacebug. Hosts: azalea, rhododendron, Andromeda, hawthorn, poplar, and willow Starting the last week of June to early July Table 1. Its common name comes from the raised network of veins on its clear, hardened forewings. Mature Lecanium scales appear as tortoise-like bumps (soft) on the bark. 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