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Help! What is this scale, and how can I remove it?

Last post 08-03-2012 7:27 AM by Pesty. 4 replies.

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  • 07/03/2012 10:11 AM
    • ClaireM
    • London
    • 07 Mar 2012
    • 3
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    scale pest.jpg Hi, I have been given a small tree which has this scale (see photo attached) on a lot of the branches. At present it is isolated from other plants by a few metres. I have struggled to identify the exact type of scale, so thought I'd see if anyone else can shed some light... Before I move it into the garden properly I need to know: - What is the scale? - Will it damage my other plants (most of which are veg and flowers rather than shrubs)? - Can I remove or kill the scale? Anything else you think I should know?! Thanks in advance.
  • 07/03/2012 10:15 AM
    In reply to
    • ClaireM
    • London
    • 07 Mar 2012
    • 3
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    P.s. Sorry about image size - this is the largest the website would allow me to upload. Each little scale is very small, much less than 1cm long, and a little bit like a muscle shell in shape. These are brownish and layered over each other. They can be scraped off with the finger nail quite easily, though the bark underneath is very pale and I was concerned as to whether simply scraping them off would be effective in curing and preventing spread to other plants, and whether it might also damage the tree.

  • 07/03/2012 11:24 AM
    In reply to
    • Pesty
    • At a desk
    • 24 Nov 2005
    • 324
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    What is the tree? 

     

    From the description it could be Mussel scale:     

    Mussel scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi)  Common on unsprayed apple trees and also cotoneaster, chaenomeles, dogwood, hawthorn, heather, ceanothus and box.  The scales are 3mm long, dark brown and resemble miniature shellfish mussels.  They encrust the bark and sometimes the fruits but no honeydew is produced.  Eggs hatch late May to June.

     

    To attempt control spray with insecticide when eggs hatch.

    'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson
  • 07/03/2012 08:43 PM
    In reply to
    • ClaireM
    • London
    • 07 Mar 2012
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    Hi, Yes it is an apple or plum tree (can't remember which is which as neither have leaves now!) but I looked up mussel scale which it seems can affect both, and the photos I looked at on the web look identical. I read that Provado insecticide is best, so will try that when the eggs hatch, unless anyone has anything else to add... Thanks.

  • 08/03/2012 07:27 AM
    In reply to
    • Pesty
    • At a desk
    • 24 Nov 2005
    • 324
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    Just like to add - Take great care when choosing an insecticide for a food plant - make sure that the pesticide lists Apple as a plant it can be used on and follow the instructions on maximum number of applications and harvest interval.

     

    'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson