Plant Pest

Categories	Scale
Overview Aphids Boxelder Bug Cicada Elm Leaf Beetle Flea Beetle Fruit Fly Hornworm June Beetles Katydid Leaf-Footed Bug MealyBug Mites Naval Orange Potato Tuber Psyllids Rust Scale Stink Bug Thrips Weevil	Scale insects are tiny; many are under 1/8th of an inch. They are a serious pest, attaching to plants and penetrating deeply into the tissue with long sucking mouthparts. They remain attached to the one spot throughout their adult life. Males are actually rarely seen since they are so small--it is the females that are readily noticed. There are two basic types--those with hard armored scales to protect them from their enemies, and those with soft bodies. The soft-bodied scales often excrete a powdery white waxy substance. There are many scales; the following are some of the more prevalent pests, divided between the hard and soft types. SOFT SCALES: COTTONY CUSHION SCALE This fluted scale first attacked the Southern California citrus industry in the late 1860. The industry was almost wiped out until the Vedalia Beetle (similar to the Lady Bug) was introduced. The beetle has a great appetite for this scale, which is now in check. This reddish-brown scale also finds other plants as acceptable hosts. BROWN SOFT SCALE As the name states, this is one of the “soft” scales. The body has many tiny brown spots which seem to blend together. It is a general feeder, and attaches to just about any plants, shrubs, and trees including citrus. It is oval and very flat in shape. EUROPEAN ELM SCALE This scale has a reddish-brown body, and is another of the “soft” scales. It especially attacks elm trees, leaving a sooty fungus mess underneath the infected tree. It attaches to the underside of tree limbs, and is especially abundant in late spring. HARD SCALES: CALIFORNIA RED SCALE The California Red Scale is the most serious problem for citrus fruit around the world. It was established in the state in 1877, and attaches to branches, leaves, and the fruit itself. It is a hard, armored scale, often appearing as a spot on the fruit. OLEANDER SCALE Despite its name, it is the most common scale in California and attaches not only to oleanders, but also to citrus and ivy. It is also a hard scale, light brown to gray in color. LATANIA SCALE This hard scale attacks woody hosts. It is found on avocados, yucca, willow, fuchsia, acacia among a wide variety of host plants. This scale is white, light tan or purplish in color, and somewhat circular in shape. GREEDY SCALE This scale is almost identical to the Latania scale. It attacks leaves, bark, and fruit. Any infected fruit are quickly rendered useless. It is light purple in color. BLACK SCALE Black scale is a major pest for citrus, especially in the Central Valley. It especially attacks grapefruit, and excretions lead to black sooty mold. Identified by H pattern on mesothorax. SAN JOSE SCALE This scale attacks apples, peaches, plums, and pears. It often is not noticed until a large population has developed. San Jose scale not only sucks juices out of the plant; it injects toxins which kill small portions of the infected areas. The insect is very tiny and colored yellow. Size & Identifying Characteristics: 1.Antenna- underneath prosoma 2.Eyes- underneath prosoma 3.Head- attached to thorax w/stylet 4.Legs- 6, on crawlers 5.Wings- wings on male only 6.Thorax- body is oval 7.Petiole- none 8.Abdomen- attached to thorax region 9.Color- various colors 10.Other- lives short life span Life Cycle Most of the hard scales have several generations per year, but most soft scales have only one. Eggs of both hatch into tiny crawlers with legs. The hard scale crawlers settle down the quickest, soft scale crawlers may move around for several days. The life cycles vary among the different kinds of scales.
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Scale insects are tiny; many are under 1/8th of an inch. They are a serious pest, attaching to plants and penetrating deeply into the tissue with long sucking mouthparts. They remain attached to the one spot throughout their adult life. Males are actually rarely seen since they are so small--it is the females that are

readily noticed. There are two basic types--those with hard armored scales to protect them from their enemies, and those with soft bodies. The soft-bodied scales often excrete a powdery white waxy substance. There are many scales; the following are some of the more prevalent pests, divided between the hard and soft types.

SOFT SCALES:

COTTONY CUSHION SCALE
This fluted scale first attacked the Southern California citrus industry in the late 1860. The industry was almost wiped out until the Vedalia Beetle (similar to the Lady Bug) was introduced. The beetle has a great appetite for this scale, which is now in check. This reddish-brown scale also finds other plants as acceptable hosts.

BROWN SOFT SCALE
As the name states, this is one of the “soft” scales. The body has many tiny brown spots which seem to blend together. It is a general feeder, and attaches to just about any plants, shrubs, and trees including citrus. It is oval and very flat in shape.

EUROPEAN ELM SCALE
This scale has a reddish-brown body, and is another of the “soft” scales. It especially attacks elm trees, leaving a sooty fungus mess underneath the infected tree. It attaches to the underside of tree limbs, and is especially abundant in late spring.

HARD SCALES:

CALIFORNIA RED SCALE
The California Red Scale is the most serious problem for citrus fruit around the world. It was established in the state in 1877, and attaches to branches, leaves, and the fruit itself. It is a hard, armored scale, often appearing as a spot on the fruit.

OLEANDER SCALE
Despite its name, it is the most common scale in California and attaches not only to oleanders, but also to citrus and ivy. It is also a hard scale, light brown to gray in color.

LATANIA SCALE
This hard scale attacks woody hosts. It is found on avocados, yucca, willow, fuchsia, acacia among a wide variety of host plants. This scale is white, light tan or purplish in color, and somewhat circular in shape.

GREEDY SCALE
This scale is almost identical to the Latania scale. It attacks leaves, bark, and fruit. Any infected fruit are quickly rendered useless. It is light purple in color.

BLACK SCALE
Black scale is a major pest for citrus, especially in the Central Valley. It especially attacks grapefruit, and excretions lead to black sooty mold. Identified by H pattern on mesothorax.

SAN JOSE SCALE
This scale attacks apples, peaches, plums, and pears. It often is not noticed until a large population has developed. San Jose scale not only sucks juices out of the plant; it injects toxins which kill small portions of the infected areas. The insect is very tiny and colored yellow.

Size & Identifying Characteristics:

1.Antenna- underneath prosoma
2.Eyes- underneath prosoma
3.Head- attached to thorax w/stylet
4.Legs- 6, on crawlers
5.Wings- wings on male only
6.Thorax- body is oval
7.Petiole- none
8.Abdomen- attached to thorax region
9.Color- various colors
10.Other- lives short life span

Life Cycle

Most of the hard scales have several generations per year, but most soft scales have only one. Eggs of both hatch into tiny crawlers with legs. The hard scale crawlers settle down the quickest, soft scale crawlers may move around for several days. The life cycles vary among the different kinds of scales.