barrosinc
Masterpiece
It has been progressively killing branches but my scale poison isn't working.
Is this juniper scale
- Thread starter barrosinc
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quietobserver
Omono
Have you checked for spider mites? Closer pic would help.
barrosinc
Masterpiece
I thought the picwas pretty close... You can zoom in a bit.
AJL
Chumono
Yes its definitely Juniper scale and a heavy infestation at that! The insects are tiny sap suckers with a whiteish waxy skin which repels most water-based chemical sprays. You can treat it quite effectively by submerging the plant in a bucket or bowl of dish washing liquid -detergent and water for several hours,at normal concentration used for hand dish washing or if its too big to submerge, spray it several times with detergent/water agin at normal concentration used for hand dish washing . Its worked for me better than Provado or whatever other poisons the pesticide industry tries to sell us as the wonder cures for all plant ailments! Keep the infested plant in a quarantine area well away from your other Junipers, Chamaecyparis and Cryptomerias or it may spread to them too!
quietobserver
Omono
Sorry Max I was reading with my phone and the pic resolution was poor compared to now from my tablet; clearly my issue. Agreed with AJL, looks to be scale but if you've had mites before consider checking as well. In a weakened state the tree may develop more than one problem. Better safe than sorry and best of luck!
hemmy
Omono
Which poison? A systemic? Can you get Dinotefuran? Also, do you have ants on around the plant? If so, kill them as they can farm scales and aphids for their honeydew and protect them from natural predators.
With a bad infestation a systemic is probably required. But my 2 cents on pest management, is to limit broadcast insecticide spraying because you are also killing the natural predators of your infestation bugs. Target spray where needed, also utilize horticultural oils and bacterial derived sprays when appropriate, limit treatments on flowering species to avoid unwanted insect kills, and introduce plants to attract natural predators.
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html
