How to deal with the scale insect in the garden on plums, cherries and other trees

This is the name of a small pest with harsh wings. Adult parasites and their larvae consume the sap of the plants they inhabit. The scabbard apple comma-shaped, falsely Californian and willow are considered famous. Today, a topical topic is being considered - protecting the garden from pests: a scabbard on plants.

This parasite is insidious and difficult to remove. If young animals are defeated with poisonous chemicals, then adult insects have serious protection in the form of a shell, which makes them invulnerable to a large number of drugs. Such parasites are removed by one method - they are scraped off the plants by hand.

Shield - who is it?

Scabbards are hemiptera insects that literally suck out all the juices from plants. There are several thousand species of them, and almost all of them are dangerous gluttonous pests. In addition, the overwhelming majority of scale insects are polyphages. They practically do not care what kind of plant to eat, hundreds of species are used as forage plants and the pest easily "migrates" from one crop to another.

The main danger for gardeners is represented by female scale insects - we see them on the leaves and branches in the form of tiny flat "turtles" that stick to the surface of the plant. They have a very durable shell that reliably protects insects from the effects of chemicals. In addition to the fact that the female scale insect actually feeds on the plant and lays clutches of eggs inside it, from which the same voracious larvae hatch, she also secretes a sweetish sticky liquid - honeydew, creating favorable conditions for the development of sooty fungus (rabble).

California scabbard

The scale insects are very prolific insects.
This type of scale insects is a quarantine pest. These pests attack 200 plant species. Ornamental, fruit and berry trees suffer from the activity of the Californian scale insect.

The color of the scutellum in adult females is yellow - the color of the bark. And the males are bright orange in color. The larvae spend the winter under the shield.

The biggest danger of Californian scale insects is their excessive fertility. In the clutch of one female there are 100-300 eggs, and during the summer it can ripen up to 4 generations.

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Scale board in the garden and vegetable garden

Scabbards affect almost all types of plants - on the site, fruit trees with shrubs, ornamental species, and garden plants also suffer from them. Moreover, these insects damage absolutely all parts - from leaves and fruits to branches and bark.

In the garden and vegetable garden, plants can be harmed by the Californian scale insect, mulberry scale (white plum), comma-shaped apple scale, beet, acacia, hazel, purple, brown ...

Signs of damage to all types of scabbards are almost the same:

• on the plant, single, then in large numbers, rounded flat scales up to 5 mm in diameter (adult female scale insects) are visible - in extreme cases, these "scales" can completely cover the branch or trunk of the affected plant;
• sticky secretions appear on the surface of leaves and branches - pad;
• small yellow spots appear on the plant, growing and turning into holes over time as the juice is sucked out;
• leaves turn yellow, curl, dry out and fall off;
• the bark cracks;
• ovaries and flowers prematurely dry out and fall off;
• branches are bent and bare;
• fruits become stained and die off;
• sooty fungus is actively developing;
• the plant stops growing, dries up.

Saplings and young trees are especially affected by the scale insect.

Types of scale insects

Due to the large variety of plants, the numerical composition of the scutellum is also large. Let's review the most common types.

1. An orange shield, in the form of a comma. Harmful to citrus and laurel plants.
2. Pear-shaped pest of European origin. Affects stone fruit and pome fruit plants.
3. Pear-shaped yellow parasite. A distinctive feature is the appearance of bright red spots on pome fruits.
4. Red pear-shaped scale. Harmful to pome and stone plants, walnuts, horse nuts, dogwood.
5. California parasite. Her favorite habitat is the apple tree. She is also not indifferent to other pome plants, leaves bright red spots on the skin.
6. Red orange scale insect. It affects citrus and rosaceous plants.
7. California false scale insect. Affects citrus plants.
8. Pine fusiform parasite. It does not spare the needles of pine trees, as a result of which the needles turn yellow and fall off.

Orange shield

California scabbard

Orange scale

Scabbard on indoor plants

In an apartment, the danger of scale insects is aggravated by the fact that, in favorable home conditions, they can reproduce all year round, without a dormant period in the cold months. The process of changing generations (and therefore eating plants) goes on continuously.

Scabbards can enter the apartment together with new plants brought from the store by contaminated soil and even be carried by the wind (at the stage of vagrant larvae). In the future, the females attach to the leaves and begin to do their dirty work, and the mobile larvae easily migrate to neighboring plants.

As in the garden, in indoor conditions, scale insects affect almost all types of plants, even those that are poisonous to most other organisms. Especially they "like" palm, bromeliads, citrus fruits. In an apartment, you can equally successfully find a scabbard on a ficus, lemon, ivy, orchid, cyperus, asparagus, bastard, cactus ...

Further, in damaged plants, everything goes according to the above-described algorithm: yellowing, drying out, dying off ...

How to successfully deal with a scabbard at home, we will consider below.

How to get rid of scale insects on lemon

Chemical preparations and more gentle folk methods and recipes will help prevent the exotic lemon tree from drying out. Answering the question of how to treat the scabbard, it is worthwhile to initially understand that in the room the prevailing importance is given to home recipes, such as:

• Alcohol cleaning with a cotton swab or toothbrush. Stems, leaves and even an ovary lend themselves to processing. This mechanical method is very laborious, but it perfectly helps to resist the invasion of the pest, which is usually found as adults with an already formed shield that protects it from chemicals.
• Onion tincture. 1 onion per liter of water. Defend half a day and wipe the plant.
• Tobacco infusion. You only need 2 tbsp. l. tobacco and half a liter of water.
• Tincture of 5 garlic cloves in 1 glass of water.
• Pepper processing. We need chili pepper in the amount of 50 g and half a liter of water. After combining the ingredients, they wait 2 hours and begin processing.

The ants have shown themselves to be excellent scalers on plants, in this case, on lemon.
Another simple method to get rid of the parasite on lemon without resorting to chemicals is ants.If you regularly expose a pot of lemon near the ant's nest in the summer, these insects will perfectly clean the tree from the pest.

It will be useful to carry out preventive measures on purchased lemon trees or obviously weakened plants. Among them, wiping the leaves from dust with a damp cloth, control of air humidity, timely cutting of weakened branches with garden varnish treatment, the absence of fresh cut flowers in the vicinity and airing the room.

An effective chemical scabbard remedy is readily available at any gardening store. They can be:

• Actellic... It is highly toxic to humans, therefore, the treatment is carried out outdoors in a respirator and after it you should thoroughly wash your hands. Very effective the first time.
• Aktara... A relatively safe substance. Both stems and leaves, and soil, lend themselves to processing. The effect is visible the next day.
• Fitoverm. Safe for humans and does not harm the plant. It is also advisable for them to water the soil.

Observing agrotechnical rules for caring for a plant, and checking it for pests, you can protect both the lemon itself and neighboring plants, and the scabbard pest will not appear.

How to deal with a scabbard

Found at least one scabbard plaque on flowers, vegetable leaves, or tree branches? Do not hesitate - if you miss the initial stage of damage and do not take timely measures, then you can lose not only the future harvest, but also the plant itself!

How to get rid of scale insects on plants? If the insect plaques are still in single copies, consider yourself lucky. The simplest mechanical method can help - the plant is isolated from the rest (of course, when it comes to indoor flowers), and the sucked females are simply brushed off the surface with a soft toothbrush or cotton pad. After that, it is advisable to thoroughly wipe the whole plant with a cloth soaked in soapy water, and rinse the solution with hot water, and then repeat the rubdown with a shower a couple of times with an interval of a week. In addition, the nearest plants should be treated, as well as the windowsill or shelf where the affected plant stood (they can be wiped with any alcohol-containing solution).

In the garden, the affected branches (foliage, bark, lichens from the trunk) must also be removed mechanically - for example, on a lined film or paper - and then the removed parts must be burned.

The most important stage in the fight against the scale insect is the prevention of mass infection - regularly and carefully inspect your plants for the appearance of insects and traces of their vital activity (egg laying, sticky honeydew), not forgetting to look at the back of the leaves and in the leaf sinuses.

If there are already a lot of sucked scale insects, it is no longer possible to simply remove insects and parts damaged by them. It will be necessary to destroy especially damaged specimens, and to apply chemical measures to combat the scabbard for neighboring plants.

Surface single spraying in most cases does not give a positive effect - the shield reliably protects the insect's body from damage. Therefore, if it is not possible to regularly wipe the plant with material soaked in soapy water or insecticide, the spraying treatment will definitely have to be carried out several times - at least three times, with an interval of a week, in order to guarantee the destruction of the generation of pests newly emerging from the eggs of larvae.

As an effective remedy for the scabbard, the drug Aktara is often advised - a contact insecticide of the neonicotinoid group, whose protective effect lasts up to a month. The best effect will be given by simultaneous spraying with this substance plus root watering with a solution. In addition to Aktara, the following drugs help from the scabbard:

• organic pesticides, neonicotinoids, which block the transmission of nerve impulses in insects (Apache, Mospilan, Tanrek, Iskra Zolotaya, Konfidor, Colorado, etc.);
• juvenoids - synthetic analogs of insect hormones that disrupt their metabolism (for example, Admiral, Phasis, etc.);
• organophosphorus compounds of intestinal action (Karbofos, Aktellik, Alatar, Kemifos, Antiklesch, Novaktion, etc.).

Most of the above drugs are highly toxic, so strictly observe the dosage indicated on the packaging and the technology of their use, and also do not neglect the safety precautions during work.

Among the folk remedies for the scale insect, you can find a mention of the treatment of affected plants with flea and tick agents, onion and garlic infusions, vinegar solution and even vegetable oil and vodka. Of course, all of them are not as toxic as the above drugs, however, there is practically no benefit from them for plants. These funds will help get rid of the scabbard only at the very first stages of the defeat and subject to repeated processing. In the worst case, with inept use, you can completely harm the plant - cause clogging of pores or burns on the leaves, for example.

The scabbard is a dangerous and indiscriminate pest. However, with the observance of preventive measures and the timely use of appropriate drugs, it is quite possible to free your site from this ubiquitous insect.

Chemical preparations for the scabbard

Chemicals are considered the most effective. But they can harm people, animals and plants. There are various types of these substances. The toxicity level is numbered from 1 to 4 on the packaging, where the first is the most dangerous. But even the 4th level hurts, for example, bees.

Preparations for the fight against the scabbard

The fight against the scabbard with chemicals can be of various types according to the effect:

Contact (leather): Spruzit-AF and Permethrin. Only one processing required Intestinal (mouth): Actellic, Arrivo, Aktara. Double processing Systemic (through the roots and stems, the drug penetrates into the sap of the plant, and then into the parasite): Phosphamide, Methylmercaptophos, Bi 58. Particularly hazardous.

"Aktara" from the scale insect, like Actellik and Confidor, are insecticides and require at least 2-fold treatment. Neurotoxic "Vertimek" is recommended to be used once. And the biological substance "Fitoverm" - on average 5 times. Even seeds can be treated with some drugs, such as Actellik (Phosbecid). But many smell bad.

In some cases, it will be appropriate to use entomophages - predatory insects (spspaltella, blastotrix, even ladybugs), aimed precisely at eliminating the scale insects from the plant. Biological methods of exposure are such a fungicidal agent for the scabbard as "Aversectin", "Avertin", "Nemabakt", "Bitoxibacillin". It not dangerous for people and animals. However, this product contains live bacteria, which begin to act only at temperatures from 18 ° C.

It is still undesirable to use such funds indoors. If there is no other way out, then you should do this exclusively in a respirator and leave the room for half an hour - an hour. Basically, processing is carried out after isolating the damaged plant in a separate room. On the open ground, the nuance of use is the mandatory watering of nearby plants before applying an insecticide or fungicide. There should be no dry leaves or branches under the tree or plant. The instructions for the concentration of the substance should be strictly adhered to so as not to harm the cultivated plants.

Brief description of the pest

Scabbards (Latin name - Diaspididae) are a family of insects that live all over the world. They are known as pests of wild, cultivated and ornamental plants, causing great damage to horticulture.Science ranks 2,400 species among them, of which the plum, comma-shaped and Californian scalet are most often affected. The latter, despite its foreign name, is widespread on the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and other neighboring countries.

Insects reproduce by laying eggs. Soon, larvae appear from them, and then - adults. They are characterized by pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are very different from males both in appearance and in the characteristics of life:

1. The body of females is protected by a hard shell - a rounded shield reaching up to several mm in diameter. Its color depends on the species and age of the individual. She has no legs, whiskers, wings or even eyes. The female scale insect spends her entire life in one place, clinging to the plum shoot.
2. The male looks completely different: it is a small winged midge with antennae, paws and eyes painted in purple-red. The male individual circles around the plants, but does not cause them any harm: only females and larvae feed on plant juices.
3. The larvae molt several times, gradually becoming similar to adults. They need nutrients to grow, and they suck them out of the plum shoots. Starting from the second instar of the larva, the male sex has division into the head, breast, and wing buds. Individuals of the female sex are overgrown with a dense shield, and their wings and eyes are also reduced.

The scutes are visually similar to the growths on the bark of the plum. They live mainly in colonies consisting of insects that differ in age. Solitary individuals are extremely rare.

Worm and pest photos

Scorms - these are sedentary sucking insects up to 5 mm in size, have an elongated-oval body with long bristles along the edges. Wingless females are somewhat similar to wood lice of a flesh-orange color, the body of adults is covered with a waxy coating, sometimes in the form of a cannon, for which they are popularly called shaggy lice. The female lays up to 2000 eggs in leaf axils, on the underside of leaves and on young shoots of plants.

Pay attention to the photo - the worm most often appears on the underside of the leaves along the veins and on the stems:

Larvae and adult females suck young shoots, leaves, buds. They greatly retard the growth of plants. Insects are very mobile and move well at almost any age. Their sexual dimorphism is sharply expressed. Males have wings (usually the first pair), limbs are normally developed, abdomen with two tail filaments or a bundle of them. There is no oral apparatus (males do not feed in adulthood). In a number of species, the legs are reduced or absent. Most lay eggs, some species have viviparous females. The eggs are laid in a white cotton-like face sac. Fertility is very high; many forms give two, sometimes up to four generations a year.

The worm most often hides in the axils of leaves, cracks in the bark, settles near the root collar and on the roots. Lays eggs in clumps of white cobweb, which makes the plant appear to be covered with white fluff. The adult female is oval (up to 5 mm long), light crimson and covered with a bloom of white. Severely depletes the plant.

Plants suffer from the worm pest: fuchsia, oleander, amaryllis, cactus, clivia, coleus, prickly pear, mamillaria, gasteria, echinopsis.

Larvae of the 1st instar (vagabonds) actively move around the fodder plant and can be carried by the wind. Having sucked onto the plant, the larvae lose their mobility; after molting, the larvae of the next instar look for places to feed again. Adult females of some species can actively crawl along the forage plant. Before oviposition, many forms leave the feeding site and go into hiding places.

The worm infects young shoots, leaves and buds of vegetable crops, which leads to a delay in plant growth.The insect is clearly distinguishable with the naked eye, since it secretes a sugary substance - honeydew, on which a sooty fungus then settles.

Plum damage

The harm from the scale insect on the plum is that it spoils this fruit tree, feeding on its juices. This is detrimental to the general condition and growth of the crop. The insect multiplies rapidly: in the climate of the middle zone, up to 2 generations of the pest appear per season. Each female scale insect, under favorable conditions, is capable of giving life to 120 - 400 new individuals.

If you let the situation take its course, then the pest colony grows rapidly in number and area of ​​damage to trees in the garden.

The plums are weakening. With the long-term presence of insects in the garden, planting may not give any crop at all. There is a high risk that without the use of effective methods of destroying the pest, the trees will begin to dry out and completely die.

Root bug and pest control measures

Root worm - a pest that is not so easy to detect, but not because of its size, but because it settles only on the roots of the plant. Such a worm sucks life-giving juices directly from the roots. Signs of root worm damage are slowdown and, over time, cessation of growth. If, when examining the roots, a white bloom becomes noticeable, then the cause of the disease is the root worm.

The root worm is a small insect (1-3 mm), parasitizing on the roots of plants. Against the background of the soil, it is clearly visible. The signs of the disease are the cessation of the growth and flowering of plants. The root worm is destroyed by contact poisons or by heating in hot water, as if infected with a nematode.

The females of the pest resemble larvae in appearance, and the males have a pair of wings. The appearance of insects is very diverse and depends on the species. There are viviparous mealybug species. The pest affects different plants depending on the species, including bulbous ones. A mealy felt or waxy cobweb appears on the affected plants, in which the worms and their offspring hide. This leads to yellowing and drying of the leaves, the cessation of plant growth, and the multiplication of a fungal infection. Worms also penetrate under the onion skins and harm the crop.

Cactus and bromeliads often suffer from this pest. Colonies of such worms are clearly visible on the roots, if you carefully knock out a dry lump of soil from the pot.

To combat the root worm, chemical agents are used, including fufanon or "BI-58 new", as well as the drug "Confidor".

To destroy the pest, drugs aktara, mospilan, decis profi, fitoverm, fufanon, fosalon, inta-vir are used.

Mealybug - small colonial insect, 2 - 3 mm long, pink to light brown, constantly in motion; the waxy discharge forms a cotton-like bloom, under which they hide. It can be found on the root collar, underside of leaves and in their axils. They love a dry and warm place.

In protected areas of the stem, the female lays eggs in waxy cocoons that resemble cotton balls. It multiplies extremely quickly. Worms, like ticks, suck the juice from the stem of the cactus. A pest control measure is the spraying of the collection with contact poisons.

Mealybugs, as a rule, are clearly distinguishable with the naked eye, most often they collect in colonies on the underside and in the axils of the leaves, on the petioles and stems, where white cotton-like secretions are formed, where the females lay their eggs. Affected plants look like they are covered in fluff or cotton wool. The larvae hatching from the eggs spread throughout the plant. With the abundant release of honeydew by females, a sooty fungus appears on the leaves, polluting the plant.

Control measures: spraying with paraffin oil.

Signs of infection

You can suspect that the plum has been hit by a scale insect by the following signs:

1. The appearance of yellow-brown scales on the shoots and leaves of the tree, which are very difficult to remove. They can be either slightly flattened or convex.
2. The bark loses its natural shine.
3. Formation of frozen sap drips on the branches and trunks of the plum.
4. The leaves are glued to each other.
5. The branches of the tree dry up.
6. The growth of the plant slows down or completely stops.

If such signs appear, then you need to thoroughly examine the plum and adjacent plantings in order to assess the criticality of the scale of infection. Based on this, they choose means to combat the pest.

Tropical and cactus scale insects

Tropical scale (Abgrallaspis cyanophylh) is noted on many greenhouse plants; from cacti, it affects cereus, prickly pears, mamillaria, etc. The female's scutellum is oval, yellow.

Cactus scale (Diaspis echinocacti) colonies on cacti. Prefers prickly pears, echinocactus, cereus, mamillaria. It sucks out juices, which leads to drying out of individual parts, and sometimes whole specimens. Whitish-yellow spots appear on the stems, which often coalesce. The female of this insect is covered with a round white shield 4 mm long. In the conditions of the greenhouse, two generations develop, mass reproduction of the pest was noted in spring and autumn.

Watch the video "Scabbard Control" for a better understanding of how to get rid of these pests:

Basic methods of struggle

The insect has a protective shell, which makes the process of dealing with it laborious. If the scale insects have managed to multiply, then you cannot do without the use of chemical insecticides. The plant is sprayed with them in 3-4 procedures until the scabbards are completely destroyed. When there are very few pests or the harvest is ripe, which does not allow the use of toxic substances, then folk or biological remedies can be used.

To make the fight easier or to protect the garden from the scabbard, you need to keep it in order:

• trim and thin out the crown as necessary;
• clean the trunk of dead particles of bark, moss and lichen;
• cut off infected shoots and burn them;
• remove growth in the root zone.

Each new plant brought to the site must be carefully examined and quarantined. A seedling should not be placed in the garden until it is completely free of pests.

Chemicals

Chemical insecticides show very good results in the fight against the scale insect. They contain toxic substances that cause the death of the pest. But so that poisonous compounds do not accumulate in the fruits of the plum, the treatments must be carried out either long before ripening, or after harvesting. The exact timing is indicated in the instructions for each drug.

"Working" insecticides against scabies:

1. "" Preparation 30 (B) "is used in early spring, before the buds have appeared. It will destroy the larvae hibernating in the bark.
2. Aktara is a systemic insecticide that is used both for spraying and for root watering of young plum seedlings.
3. "Actellic" containing organophosphorus compounds. An effective but toxic product that is not recommended for use near the house.
4. Biotlin.
5. "Confidor Extra".

It is recommended to change insecticides so that the scale insects do not develop immunity to them.

A one-time treatment will not work. The scabbards are reliably protected by a wax shell, which protects them from poisons. Therefore, it will take at least 3 sprays of the plum, carried out a week apart from each other.

Folk remedies

The fight against the scabbard on the drain can also be carried out using folk remedies. But such methods will bring the desired result only if there are very few insects. There are no compounds that are toxic to humans in recipes for processing fruit trees, and their use of folk remedies is safe for health. Here is some of them:

1. A simple solution of 10 g of shavings of laundry soap in 10 liters of water.
2. 50 g of green soap diluted in 10 l water.
3. 10 g of soda ash per 10 liters of water.
4. Infusion of "caustic" plants: garlic, walnut, makhorka and wormwood.
5. Emulsion made from machine oil and soap solution. The optimal proportion is 1:10. Can be used once a decade.

Such agents are used for spraying plums. Treatments, as with the use of chemicals, should be carried out at intervals of 7-10 days.

If there are very few scabbards, then the affected area can simply be wiped with a cotton swab moistened in one of the means or folded gauze.

Biological

Biological studies have identified natural enemies of the scabies, which are today used to combat the pest:

1. Ladybugs, and especially the kidney-shaped and two-spotted chylocorus, reduce the number of scale insects by 50–70% if released into the garden in May. One individual can eat approximately 700 larvae.
2. The small rider Prospaltella perniciosi is also effective against the pest.
3. To destroy the scabbard, you can use popular biological products containing nematodes or fungi: "Aversectin", "Avertin" and "Nemabakt".

They do not contain toxic substances, therefore, after their application, the crop will be safe. Biologics do not harm the drain itself.

Choosing a way to deal with the scabbard on the drain, it is necessary to correctly assess the scale of the infection and the real threat. To make the result better, you can combine chemical, folk and biological drugs with each other. It is important to follow the instructions and not forget about the regularity: skipping one treatment, you will have to start all over again.

Traditional methods

Folk recipes for the pest There are many folk methods that have been tested by gardeners for more than one decade to combat the scabbard on a pear, apple, peach, etc .:

• Applying a solution of grated laundry soap and chopped garlic in a 1: 1: 3 ratio with water. Sick plants need to be sprayed, and after a day they should be washed with clean water from a hose. The procedure must be repeated every 3 days until the parasites disappear.
• Onion infusion is made from 4 onions, filled with 1 liter of water, leave for 3-4 hours, then strain and apply for spraying.
• Pour fresh chopped hot pepper 100 g with a liter of water and cook for 10-15 minutes, then insist for a day and filter. When processing, green soap is added at the rate of: for 1 liter of water 10 g of pepper tincture and 5 g of soap;
• Pour 300 g of wood ash with 1 liter of boiling water, cook for 30 minutes, cool and strain, dilute with water to 10 liters and spray the planting.
• Insist 3-4 kg of fresh celandine in 10 liters of water a day, can be used for watering and processing trees.

What does the scale insect look like in the photo and how to deal with a pest in the garden

Photos of scale insects and measures to combat them - for your attention on this page:

California scaled Is a dangerous pest of horticultural crops that damages many trees and shrubs (apple, pear, apricot, peach, cherry and sweet cherry, plum, hawthorn, quince, rose, lilac and other plants).

An inexperienced gardener, knowing about the need to combat scale insects in the garden, can detect these worst pests on the fruits of the apple and pear in the form of small dots with a bright rim around. These are summer tramps, and the bulk of the pest on the bark of boles, skeletal branches and young shoots in the form of a gray-white solid bloom, which is easily cleaned off with a fingernail.

Many, not knowing what the scale insect looks like, think that it is a rather large insect under a brown, convex, well-visible shield. In fact, this pest is very small, but the damage to plantings from it is very large.

In damaged trees, the bark cracks and falls behind, the leaves fall off prematurely, thin, and then individual skeletal branches die. Red spots on fruits drastically reduce their quality, they become smaller, do not gain sugar content, wither and fall off prematurely.

Without taking measures to combat scale insects, with a strong infection of plants, trees and shrubs can die. Affected seedlings dry out after 2-3 years.

Look at the photo of what the scabbard looks like - the body of the female pest is round, lemon-yellow, covered with a round shield, the size of which is 1.5-2 mm (which is why it is so difficult to see them):

Females are viviparous. The maximum fecundity is 130-140 larvae. The larvae are flat, oval, yellowish lemon. The hatched larvae (vagabonds) lead an active lifestyle, move around the entire plant. Then the tramps, sticking in the proboscis, attach to the plant and begin to secrete white wax threads, from which a white shield is formed that covers their body. Soon the scutellum becomes light gray, then dark gray. On the 10-12th day after sucking, molting occurs, the pest's body increases in size. The larval skin is attached from below in the center of the scutellum, and the larva passes into the second instar.

The scale insect hibernates in the stage of first instar larvae, but in warm winters, second instar larvae and adult females are found. Hibernating larvae have a dense black shield.

The awakening of the wintering generation in spring begins with the beginning of sap flow in the trees. Therefore, the first methods of dealing with scale insects must be taken already at this stage.

The scale insect lives and develops in different climatic conditions, but gives an unequal number of generations. In the southern region - two, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus - three, and in the Central zone of Russia - one generation.

The pest spreads with planting and grafting material. Tramps can crawl from tree to tree along the closing branches.

Colonies of these insects are especially numerous in neglected, unkempt gardens. Where effective methods of dealing with Californian scale insects and other pests (leaf rollers, moths, aphids) are not used.

Comma-shaped shield

It can be found in any region, it affects apple, plum, pear and even currant bushes. Do not disregard mountain ash and hawthorn. On the bark of affected trees, small shields are distinguished, resembling commas in their shapes. The female is located in the narrow part of such a shield.

The larvae are yellow and red-eyed. They leave their shields and spread throughout the plant within a couple of weeks.

By sucking the juices, the scale insect harms the plant. It is able to develop to such an extent that it will cover the branches and trunks with a solid carpet. Over time, the affected areas of the bark die off, the foliage falls off, and the young shoots dry up. The tree loses its resistance to the winter period, does not resist bark beetles and black crayfish.

False California parasite

Harmful not only to fruit breeds. It is capable of infecting hawthorn, willow, poplar, linden and yellow acacia. The shape of the insect is round or oval, shields are of two shades.

The larvae hibernate on tree bark. With the onset of summer, the emerging females lay their eggs. The emerging larvae spread throughout the tree and stick to the bark.

Willow shield

More often it is found in northern places. It lives on bushes of currants, raspberries or gooseberries, but it is completely populated on aspen, mountain ash, bird cherry and other trees. The shields are flat in shape, outwardly reminiscent of a spray of lime.

The laid eggs hibernate under the shields of the dead females. The larvae acquire mobility during the currant flowering season, and quickly spread throughout the plant. If the number of insects is high, then they are able to stick around the branches with a solid cover of a gray shade.

Acacia or common false shield

Found on grapes and other stone fruits. Form - reddish semicircular scutellum. Females attach to last year's shoots from which they can receive food and the shell hardens. New offspring are laid under them.After the death of the female, the shield serves as protection for small scale insects. In May, young scale insects hatch from the eggs laid and spread throughout the plant on the underside of the leaves. In autumn they move to annual shoots and hibernate there without protection. In the spring they become sexually mature individuals.

Control methods and protection of the garden from pests

• The main method is mechanical cleaning of the bark using brushes with metal bristles. This maximally allows you to destroy the shields and all eggs hidden under them. If there are areas most severely affected by willow scabbard, then such shoots are recommended to be removed and burned.
• The scabbards that have appeared on young seedlings are removed mechanically, using a method of washing with simple laundry soap. In this case, it is recommended to spray the upper soil areas with poisonous preparations or even completely replace them.
• Older trees are much more difficult to wash. For this reason, they are scrubbed with brushes and additionally treated with insecticides. Actellic, used in the fight against aphids, whiteflies, and ticks, is best suited.
• If the number of larvae is high, it is allowed to spray with a solution of soap, to which soda ash is added. People use onion, garlic or tobacco infusions, as well as decoctions of celandine, needles, yarrow.
• Additional control measures include the timely use of complex fertilizer compositions, thinning of crowns, removal of dried branches, and digging up the soil.

To prevent possible infection with a scabbard, it is recommended to purchase seedlings of plants in special nurseries that guarantee the complete absence of parasites.

The scale insect is a small insect, a pest of garden and horticultural crops, surprising with its camouflage capabilities. There are various methods of dealing with scale insects on trees in the garden, both folk and chemical, that will help get rid of it.

Means and methods of dealing with Californian scale insects on trees

How to deal with scabbard pests in the garden using effective preparations?

If these insects appear in the garden during the mass emergence of vagrants (mid-June and mid-August), spray the trees inhabited with one of the insecticides. "Aliot", "Kinmiks", "Iskra-M", "Fufanon", "Inta-VIR" are good means for fighting the shield insects. For greater reliability, the treatment can be repeated with an interval of 5-6 days (for example, June 15 and 20), alternating the pesticides used.

The number of scale insects is also reduced by the spring spraying of fruit trees from leafworms and weevils (the last decade of April), at this time the scale insects molt, and the preparations are the same.

Solutions of pesticides should fall on the plants in the form of the smallest splashes - sprayed.

They need to be evenly applied not only to the top, but also to the underside of the sheet.

To achieve high spraying efficiency, you need to ensure that the entire tree and especially the cracks in its bark are well moistened with the solution.

Another effective method of dealing with scabbards in trees:

Agrotechnical measures aimed at thinning the crowns of infected trees and burning cut branches. Timely fertilization and watering, cleaning of dead bark on boles and skeletal branches, removal of dying trees and bushes from the garden, destruction of root growth.

Non-chemical control agents

To combat scale insects on peaches, cherries, etc. biological methods can also be used:

• predatory wasps or ladybugs released on fruit shrubs and trees are able to quickly eat pests, and then simply fly away for prey further;
• the use of a weak solution of liquid soap with water (2 tsp. per 3.5 liters) to wash the stems and leaves on both sides will help in the fight against the scabbard;
• treatment with special horticultural oil (neem) will be even more effective.

To avoid pest infestation, it is necessary to purchase seedlings and cuttings for your garden only in specialized nurseries that guarantee the absence of diseases and pests.

Adding an article to a new collection

A shield on houseplants, garden beds, or garden trees can cause a lot of trouble. These pests damage the leaves, trunks, fruits and branches of many plants. In the midst of the garden season, we fight the shield competently!

If you find small yellow-brown plaques on your plants, it's time to sound the alarm. Do not be fooled by their "frivolous" size - in agricultural regions, when some species of these crumbs are found, a strict quarantine is introduced. For several years, scale insects can destroy even a small tree, let alone your orchid or beet.

Let's get to know the enemy better in order to know exactly how to fight against the shield.

How to recognize a pest

There are a large number of species of scale insects. In our area, the most common:

• Californian scale insect;
• comma-shaped scale;
• acacia false shield;
• plum false shield.

All of these species are sucking insects that harm the plants they inhabit.

The main feature of all species is the presence of a protective shield made of remnants of larval scales, interconnected by insect secretions. This shell can easily be mistaken for the natural irregularities of the tree bark. Such camouflage makes it very difficult to detect pests.

While the larvae are still small, they move at high speed, and it is quite easy to detect them by visual inspection.

In later stages, the insect becomes more visible due to the enlargement of its shell. They can be seen with the naked eye - in shape they resemble whitish spots on the leaves and at the base of the branches.

Another sign of parasite dominance is the presence of a sticky liquid on the leaves. This liquid (or fall) is also the source of another misfortune - fungi. Insects can attack almost all types of plants, especially plums, apple trees, hawthorns, cherries.

Scabbard and its types

The peculiarity of this insect is manifested in the presence of a protective shield, consisting of the remnants of the scales of the larva, glued together by its secretions. Outwardly, such a shell is very similar to irregularities in the surface of the bark of trees, which makes it difficult to visually detect the pest.

The size of the insect does not exceed 5 mm, its main occupation is to suck out juices from plants, therefore it is imperative to deal with the scale insect in the garden, otherwise, during its mass reproduction, the bark, fruits and ovaries on the tree will be covered with scattering of these pests. Insects also secrete honeydew, which becomes a breeding ground for the reproduction of sooty fungi, due to which the affected plants gradually dry out and die.

Life cycle

The population is usually dominated by females. The number of males can be 18–20% of the total number of insects. During the period of existence, one female lays about 100 eggs.

In autumn, the female lays eggs and dies immediately. Her shield serves as a shelter for eggs for the winter. When the temperature rises to + 10 ° C, the larvae crawl out of the shelter and crawl over the plant.

Their fussy fast movements are caused by their short lifespan without a power source. Having found a suitable place, the larva sticks to the tree and begins to feed intensively. They lose mobility, begin to become covered with fluff.

Within two weeks after hatching, the larvae molt and form their first scutellum. A month after that, an adult female is formed from the larvae.

How to deal with mealybugs to get rid of pests

Bristly mealybug - the pest is not as tiny as the nematode. It can be seen with the naked eye, its length is 5–7 mm. Clutches of eggs are clearly visible, which look like lumps wrapped in cotton wool. This worm is characterized by a white waxy coating on the body.

As you can see in the photo, the females of the mealybug are wingless, flattened, armed with piercing mouthparts in the form of a proboscis, which pierces the body of the plant:

The female is easy to find on the plant when she settles, often on the crown near the growth points, on the buds and fruits, in the areoles under the protection of thorns and hairs, as well as when washing the roots, on which white clusters of young larvae are observed.

Signs of a worm infestation are slow growth of the plant, its lethargy, dropping of buds.

How to get rid of mealybugs on plants? In the initial stage of damage, it is recommended to use mechanical methods: pests and their masonry are removed with tweezers or a brush. After that, the affected surfaces are treated with an infusion of finely chopped garlic in 70% alcohol. After the procedure, the plants need shading for three days.

But how to deal with mealybugs when the initial stage has already passed and it is too late to apply mechanical methods? As means of control, fufanon, actellik, fosalon, rogor, bazudin (2 g / l), as well as other insecticides are used. In addition, preventive treatment of plants is carried out in spring and autumn.

External signs of defeat

The first sign of damage to the plant by scale insects can be considered the appearance on the leaves of whitish convex spots and outgrowths, which are difficult to separate from the surface.

The leaves become covered with pad (sticky liquid), lose their shine, bald spots and black spots appear on the damaged areas. Scabbards create colonies near the junctions of branches with the trunk and on the underside of leaves.

Another sign is cracking of the tree bark. In addition, such cracks are excellent shelters for scale insect larvae.

Shields that pose a danger to indoor floriculture

Florists are aware of the richness of species of the Scale family (Diaspididae). They are related to false shields, with which they are united into one superfamily of coccids or scale insects. They are extremely diverse and dangerous sucking phytophages.

The most common scale insects are:

• ivy;
• rose-colored;
• cactus;
• laurel;
• palm.

Often there is a soft false shield that affects orchids, ferns, begonias, palms and citrus crops.

By absorbing cell sap, the parasites cause the death of plant tissues, then the entire damaged organ. Scabbards and some false scutes secrete a shiny secret that is visible on the leaves, window sills. Sugar-rich feces enter the openings of the stomata for breathing. Fungi live on these secretions, which also worsens the condition of indoor flowers.

For the purpose of prevention, the affected specimens are isolated from healthy ones, the substrate in the containers is changed, they are disinfected, as well as the location.

Prevention and rules of agricultural technology

To prevent scabbards from appearing on trees, prevent the development of these pests as the first methods of control.

Since scale insects are sedentary insects, the first rule of prevention is quarantine. Do not plant new plants right away. Do not plant them near other plants. Buy seedlings in proven places, in good nurseries.

The second method of prevention is the autumn digging of land in the garden and spring cleaning. By cutting off dead branches, thinning the crowns, you minimize the risk of plant contamination.

Remove infected trees and plant parts to avoid transferring pests to healthy trees.

The use of agrochemicals against scale insects

When processing with protective equipment, it should be borne in mind that there are no drugs specifically for destroying the scabbard. Some systemic insecticides are suitable for these purposes, for example, Actellik, Fitoverm.

After mechanical cleaning and wet processing, the plants are sprayed with an insecticide, the soil is treated and covered with a transparent bag (30-40 minutes). The procedure should be repeated weekly, washing off the insecticide after two days.

Inspections and treatments in case of infection with scabbards and false shields should be carried out regularly. It should not be forgotten that on the surface of the substrate and in the crevices of the windowsill, the pest safely waits for manipulations - treat all surfaces. Create a microclimate that scale insects do not like: spray indoor plants more often, ventilate regularly all rooms where "green pets" are located.

Similar articles:

• Flower flies (sciarids)
• Mealybug
• Whitefly

• Spider mite
• Fasciation
• Rust on the leaves

Popular insecticides

On a note:

1. before processing, it is better to take the flower pot to the balcony or loggia;
2. processing is done with gloves and glasses. A respirator is required!

"Actellik"

This is a fairly effective remedy. They are sprayed with indoor plants and water the soil in pots. Can be used for the treatment of horticultural crops and storage facilities (including barns).

1.5-2 ml of the product is dissolved in one liter of water. The whole plant is sprayed with the resulting solution. The remains can be poured into the soil under the roots.

Effects on insects over a period of several minutes to several hours. The performance is determined by the state of the insect and the air temperature.

Protection lasts up to three weeks. Warehouses can be processed every eight months.

Benefits:

1. prevents the reappearance of pests;
2. there is no addiction in insects;
3. can be mixed with other insecticides for maximum effect;
4. seed treatment is permissible (for prophylaxis).

Disadvantages:

1. unpleasant odor;
2. dangerous for pets and children;
3. not recommended for residential use.

"Aktara"

It is used to combat all sorts of pests. The agent can be sprayed on plants or injected directly into the soil.

For indoor plants, 0.5-1 ml of the product from a bottle (9 ml) is dissolved in one liter of water. It is best to pour the solution into the soil. Then the poison will saturate all the leaves and destroy the scale insect.

Trees and plants in the open field are treated with a sprayer.

First, one packet of dry insecticide (4 g) is diluted in 1 liter of water. The resulting milk is diluted with water in the spray tank. For a quarter of a tank of water, you will need 600 ml of flower treatment, 250 ml for currants and trees.

Pests die in a day.

Advantages:

1. efficiency;
2. can be used with growth stimulants;
3. not addictive.

Disadvantages:

1. unpleasant odor;
2. the product is toxic to bees;
3. it is impossible to carry out processing in a residential area.

"Bankol"

It is used for spraying both indoor plants and garden.

Has a contact effect. Damage to the nervous system and paralysis in pests occurs within one to two days.

In floriculture, a solution of 0.5-0.7 g is used per liter of water.

Advantages:

1. low toxicity to humans, animals;
2. poorly washed off from plants by rain;
3. it is permissible to combine with growth stimulants;
4. has no smell.

Disadvantages:

1. most effective at high air temperatures;
2. does not apply to garden treatment.

"Bitoxibacillin"

In addition to insecticide, contains bacterial

complex. Acts on pests through intestinal damage. Within a day, insects cannot feed. Three days later, their mass death begins.

35 ml of the product is dissolved in 5 liters of water. Houseplants and trees can be processed.

Advantages:

1. non-toxic;
2. without smell.

Disadvantages:

1. repeated processing is required;
2. outdoor efficiency depends on the ambient temperature (permissible minimum +18 degrees);
3. cannot be used without personal protective equipment.

There are many types of moths, but only five species live in close proximity to humans. The nodule weevil can eat up to two square meters in one day. see greenery. How to deal with this pest, read here.

The plump fir leafworm is slightly larger than other types of leafworms. A detailed description of this insect can be found in the article at the link.

Shell and brown scale insects

The most common apple or conchworm (Mytilaspis pomorum Bche. Or conchaeformis Gmel), found on elm, willows, mountain ash and hawthorn from which its testicles fall on fruit trees and berry bushes - gooseberries, currants and raspberries. This is a thyroid aphid with an elongated shield bent in the form of a comma, which is why the scale is also called comma-shaped. The scutellum is dark gray, making up a waxy discharge on the back of the female, yellowish. In late summer and early autumn, the female lays several dozen small testicles under the scutellum, hibernating under the scutellum, after which the female dies. In May, larvae emerge from the testicles, which stick to the bark of the shoots, first move, then after molting, the males fledge and after fertilization the females die, the females become immobile and secrete a shield on their back. Shoots and branches with a large multiplication of this worm are completely covered with a crust, they dry out from depletion of the juice, which sometimes causes whole bushes to die.

In late summer and autumn, dry shoots and branches are pruned and burned. In May, with the appearance of mobile larvae without shields, abundant spraying with 5% kerosene water is often performed 2 - 3 times at intervals of 1 - 2 days, then in the summer after picking berries. Instead of kerosene water, which burns leaves and shoots, in the fall or early spring, it is useful to spray with green soap 1 - 2 lb. per bucket (36 - 66 g per 1 liter) of water or lime milk - 4 lb (1.6 kg) lime per bucket (12.3 L) water with a cooling addition of 1 lb (410 g) ferrous sulfate; this remedy is often used because it works against many animal and plant parasites, but against worms it is more effective after wiping the branches with a rag or cloth. Kerosene emulsion and Californian mixture work best against worms. The kerosene emulsion is made by pouring from a quarter to half a bucket (3 - 6 L) boiling water into a tub and pouring a little 1 pound (410 g) of green soap, foamed with a wire bundle, after which 6 pounds (2.5 kg) of kerosene is poured into a bundle of a quarter hours to a liquid mixed mass. For consumption, 1 bucket (12.3 liters) of hot water and 4 buckets (50 liters) of cold water are poured. The emulsion should look like milk and there should not be drops of kerosene on its surface that cause burns on the leaves and shoots. The rubber parts of the sprayer are thoroughly washed with water after work. For the Californian mix, 10 pounds (4 kg) of good calcined lime is slaked, 10 pounds (4 kg) of sulfur and 1 to 2 buckets (12.3 to 24.6 L) of water are added to the powder; the mixture is boiled until an amber-yellow color, then a little 2 - 5 pounds (800 g to 2 kg) of sodium chloride solution is slowly added, boiled again for 1.5 hours and diluted with water to 8 buckets (98.4 liters). Both compositions are prepared fresh every time; they spoil copper sprayers very much.

Brown bug (Lecanium Corni Bche.) Is less common, attacking branches of pears, currants and gooseberries. Females are of the same size as in the previous one, and are also spherical, but brown at the edges of the scutellum with small punctures in the middle. The harm and control measures are the same.

Females

Females are devoid of wings, antennae and legs, differ in the presence of a round shield. Such a Californian scale insect has a size of up to 2 mm. The chitinous carapace acquires a shade similar to the color of the host plant. In different cultures, the size, length and outline of the body of females may vary. Individuals of this category can be recognized by their characteristic yellowish skin with a white border located in the center of the shield.

Prevention of re-infection

Using preparations for scale insects on fruit and other trees, you need to carefully process them and prevent reappearance.

Prophylaxis can be used as an initial method for removing parasites:

• it must be remembered that sexually mature individuals are inactive, which means that it is necessary to stop planting new trees for a while. Especially in the vicinity of contaminated crops;
• buying seedlings from reliable sellers is also a kind of insect control.It must be remembered that most of the infections occur due to the acquisition of infected seedlings;
• autumn should be accompanied by digging of soil, and spring should be accompanied by removal of leaves and infected parts of trees and other vegetation.

These simple methods protect the site from the scabbard misfortune. Periodic inspection of the plant will prevent parasites from multiplying and will help preserve the crop. Fighting the scabbard is not an easy task, however, comprehensive control measures have a noticeable effect and allow you to achieve good results.

Pest development cycle

The larvae of the Californian scale insect hibernate on the bark of branches and trunks, hiding from external influences under strong, well-insulated chitinous shells. With the arrival of heat during the turning of the juice, the insects wake up and begin to feed. After several molts for 20-22 days, the larvae complete their transformation into adults.
Males are active in breeding by mid-May. Their number is about 10% of the total population. Each female gives birth to up to 100 larvae over a period of several months. The latter creep in huge quantities along the branches of trees, stick to the bark and are covered with shields, which act as a natural defense for them.

Having dropped the shield, the males mate, after which they die. In early August, females stick to plants, continuing to consume nutrients, and with the onset of cold weather they go into hibernation, covered with a more durable shield.

Ways to fight

There are insects in the world that do not harm plants, but save them from pests. The scale insect belongs to the group of pests that kill flowers and trees. They must be destroyed immediately upon discovery. Entomology scientists have learned how to get rid of scabies and suggested the most effective methods.

Chemical means of effective protection (Aktara insecticide)

In the fight against pests, you cannot do without pesticides. Before you destroy the scale insect, you need to consider the cycle of its development. If these are adults, they will be protected by a strong shell, only weak individuals and larvae will be able to defeat them.

Insecticide Aktara is effective when spraying the surface of the earth and introducing it into the soil. With deep soil cultivation, the effect of the drug will last about 2 months, and with surface cultivation - 4 weeks.

Unlike many pesticides, Aktara's insecticide is not addictive to parasites. Even with prolonged use of this tool, its effectiveness does not decrease. This is important, since most drugs, after several treatments, lose their effectiveness by 40-50%.

Mechanical tree cleaning

This method is most reliable if the infection has occurred recently. All pests must be removed manually. This takes a lot of time and patience. It is better to remove the affected leaves and branches, followed by burning, in order to avoid re-infection. You can remove insects from leaves and branches with a soapy sponge or a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (cotton pad). For the bark, it is recommended to use a brush (you can use a toothbrush) for a more thorough cleaning.

With an alcohol-based or soapy sponge, you need to treat the sheet on both sides. You need to process each leaf and branch to avoid the surviving larvae. It is not recommended to remove the scale insects with bare hands, since the shield will come off, and the larvae that ripen under it will scatter throughout the plant.

Folk methods and means

Traditional methods against scale insects are not as effective, but with a comprehensive fight they will be useful. With cotton wool dipped in vodka, you need to wipe the leaves 2 times a week. Places damaged by scabbards are lubricated with an onion mass, treated with a mixture of soap and kerosene.

For a kerosene soap mixture you will need:

• laundry soap - 40 gr.;
• kerosene - 5 drops;
• water - 1 liter.

The whole plant is treated with this solution. For convenience, it is recommended to use a spray bottle.

An effective remedy for scale insects is a solution of oil and powder. To prepare it you need:

• soap (powder) - 5-10 gr.;
• machine oil - 20-30 gr.

The whole plant is treated with this mixture. The tree is kept with the smeared agent for 8-12 hours, and washed off with clean water. Such processing is carried out up to 3 times a week. Traditional methods involve processing plants with harmless, but strong-smelling agents that will scare away unwanted insects.

What trees and shrubs are affected by the pest?

There are practically no restrictions for this parasite among trees and bushes. The soil, garden, winter greenhouse and indoor flowers can also be attacked.

Most often, the comma-shaped insect affects:

• apricot;
• quince;
• turn;
• linden;
• plum;
• roses;
• honeysuckle;
• peach;
• hawthorn;
• mulberry;
• mountain ash;
• cotoneaster;
• lilac.

Also, the scale insect is found on pear, cherry and sweet cherries. Currants, raspberries, cherry plums and apple trees are not all that the insect loves. More than a hundred more names of the plant world are known, which scale insects are able to feed on. Some species are capable of attacking even plants that release poison for protection.

Prophylaxis

Let's note the common truth - it is easier to prevent damage to plants by diseases or pests by performing simple preventive treatments of plants and soil in the trunk circle than to selflessly fight pests, losing money for the purchase of chemicals, the crop and possibly the plant itself.

Frequency of treatments

Here is a calendar of plant treatments for scale insects in the spring. At this time, the scabbard is actively developing, larvae hatch, at the end of May, the males throw off their shields and fly around the garden in search of females. Therefore, the main stage of the struggle is spring:

• early spring, the time before the swelling of the buds is the period of the first treatment of shrubs against diseases and the wintering shield;
• beginning of bud formation flowers - this is the time to fight most pests, including the scale insect;
• at the end of flowering - preventive treatment with contact insecticides;
• further preventive treatments carried out using folk recipes at intervals of 10 days. At least three treatments are carried out.

Watch out for periodicals. In many regional publications, agronomists give recommendations on the preparations and timing of hatching of the scale insect larvae.

Natural enemies

Among the natural enemies of different types of scale insects, we will single out 2 worst enemies of parasites:

1. Prospaltella or "Prospaltella perniciosi" - one of the riders, in the diet of which, the scale insect takes one of the first places. Only with this parasite you need to be very careful, because at a high concentration, apple and pear trees may die.
2. A well-known helper against aphids, will help gardeners to destroy parasites - this is a well-known ladybug, or rather kidney-shaped and two-point hylorus. These assistants destroy up to 70% of the scale insects in the garden. One "sunshine - bold" eats at least 700 pieces of "vagabonds" and "nymphs".

Reasons for the appearance

A healthy plant is capable of producing antibodies against pests. They are able to naturally create a protective layer and repel insects. In this case, the scale insect appears on trees that have a weakened immune system.

Most often, the parasite starts when there is insufficient lighting, watering or severe dry air. The scale insect is not able to influence the fruiting and development of a healthy and well-groomed plant.

Males

The male body has an oval, elongated shape. The length of the flap is 0.6 to 1 mm. Color - from yellowish and black to light gray. A mature male Californian scale insect contains a dark transverse stripe on its carapace.
Unlike females, males have well-developed wings, legs and antennae. Highlights their presence of pronounced purple eyes. In some regions, there are males without wings.

What it is?

These are small insects about 5 mm long.... The color is usually light to dark brown, sometimes a purple tint. They belong to the coleoptera family, a superfamily of worms, and are ubiquitous. There are many types and subspecies of this pest (about 43). We talked about all the species of this insect in a separate article.

The name comes from a biological feature: on top of the body, attaching itself to the leaf, the worm builds up a wax carapace - a shield. With its help, pests are fixed and localized in a certain area of ​​the plant, where they carry out their vital activity, incl. feed and reproduce.

It is important to be able to distinguish it from a false shield, in which the shell is part of the body. If removing the pest from the plant, the shield gives in, and the worm remains on the leaf, then this is the shield.

What harm does it do?

Most often affected:

1. orchids;
2. palm trees;
3. ficuses;
4. citrus and tropical species.

But parasitic individuals of this species are able to live on different plants, and even on poisonous ones. Scabbards settle in colonies, and suck all nutrients from the trunk or shoot... This leads to cell necrosis (death), and sometimes death of the flower.

The larvae can live without food for about two days until they find a suitable place for attachment. They leave behind a sticky residue that can become a breeding ground for fungal diseases and bacteria. The main advantage of indoor pets - decorative properties - are lost. With severe damage, the plant dies.

Rating of affected crops

Scabbards can inhabit absolutely any tree or shrub, they can be found in greenhouses, in a greenhouse, in a winter garden, and even on indoor plants in an apartment. The comma-shaped scabbard can settle on:

• apple tree;
• pear;
• plum;
• cherry;
• cherry;
• quince;
• peach;
• apricot;
• hawthorn;
• mulberry;
• turn;
• cotoneaster;
• mountain ash;
• currants;
• birch;
• linden;
• ash tree;
• lilac, etc.

This list can include at least 150 more plant species belonging to thirteen families. In the willow scale insect, tastes spread to trees, shrubs and herbs from 17 families. For some species of scale insects, even poisonous compounds that protect certain plants, for example, white turf and laurel, are not scary.

Eggs, larvae and adults

In most species, females lay eggs, although there are viviparous scale insects, for example, the Californian species. Eggs small, their shape and color depends on the species. After mating, females hatch eggs for several months. All this time they are motionless and feed on plant juices.

In some species, fertilized females hibernate and create egg-laying in early spring, in others, at the end of summer, under the scutellum, each female lays for 2-3 weeks from 20 to 400 eggs and then dies.

From eggs emerge first instar larvae... They move freely, find the best places for themselves to feed - young shoots and juicy green leaves. In Californian scale insects, under unfavorable conditions - severe drought or prolonged rains, part of the first instar larvae goes into a state of dormancy.

After molting, larvae of the second instar, and of them sexually mature individuals - males and females... Males can go through an additional 2 stages: nymphs and pronymphs. In room conditions, the pest is able to reproduce without interruption. In the open field, 1–2 generations appear per year.

Treatment of plants with insecticides

Chemicals are effective, but they are used when there are too many pests, given the danger of such funds. In this case, most often severely affected plants or tree branches have to be completely removed and burned. Processing also applies to the rest of the tree or adjacent plants.

Unfortunately, chemical preparations cannot provide complete destruction of scale insects. The reason for this is that insects have a shell.Pests die only when the drug comes into contact with the body, but not with the shell. This means that the drug will kill the eggs and larvae of the scale insects, but most adults will survive and continue to harm.

So, if time permits, it is worthwhile to abundantly spray the plants with soapy water. If there is no time for this, then the chemical treatment will have to be done three times with an interval between spraying of one week.

Photo

In the photos below, you can see what the insect looks like.

Symptoms of defeat

If the larvae can be seen only under a magnifying glass, then the consequences of their "feeding" and development are easy to detect. The foliage on the plants becomes with a sticky and shiny surface, as if smeared with honey. Already at this stage it is too late to start the fight, usually the scabbards are covered with defense. The plaque is sweet in taste, this is due to the release of sweet and sticky waste products by feeding "tramps".
Then the shoots and trunks are covered with a grayish bloom, due to a lack of nutritious juice, the plant begins to lag behind in development, the foliage becomes small and gradually dries up. The nutrition of the plant from the processes of photosynthesis is disrupted and, in fact, the plant stops "breathing" through the foliage. Early leaf fall begins, the bark on the trunks and shoots cracks, bends. How to spray currants in the spring from pests and diseases, find out in this material.

Effects

A gardener who does not carry out preventive treatments against the scabbard on currants and other garden plants runs the risk of being left without a crop and generally losing seedlings. If at the beginning, from insufficient nutrition, parts of the bush are suppressed, then in the future the lack of nutrition causes the shoots and trunks of the bush to dry out. This article will tell you about ammonia from aphids on currants.

It is not always possible to reliably protect the garden, even after carrying out all preventive treatments, if the neighboring area is abandoned or not treated from pests. In this case, active males and "vagabonds" will quickly fill the neighboring garden and young females will hatch in August.

Larvae

There are several forms of Californian scale insect larvae:

1. The Vagabond is a newly hatched individual. It has an oblong-oval body, the length of which ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 mm. It has legs, eyes, a well-developed oral apparatus, the dimensions of which may exceed the length of the body.
2. Nymph is the transitional stage of the larva, at which the formation of the chitinous shield takes place. The body takes on an oval shape. During this period of development, the Californian scale insect changes color from gray to dark black.

Impact on garden and horticultural plants

The shield in the garden gives a lot of trouble to the summer resident. Initially, on the leaves or branches of plants, you can see single tiny oval-shaped scales. These are young female scale insects. The maximum size of an adult female can be no more than five millimeters.

In the process of females' vital activity, sticky spots soon appear on the leaves.

At the same time, through holes can be seen on the leaves. Damage was done by females or larvae. Soon, the leaf around the hole begins to turn yellow. Then the yellowness covers the entire surface of the leaf, which falls off. The same happens with the needles.

If the scale insects have chosen the branches or trunks of fruit trees, then shallow cracks in the bark soon appear.

Flowers and ovary fall off on such branches, and they themselves later lose their leaves. With an earlier raid, flowering will not occur.

If scale insects hit a plant or tree during fruit ripening, the fruits or vegetables become stained and die.

Together with all these troubles, foci of soot fungus appear on the plants. The disease progresses rapidly, the plants stop growing, and may die. The treatment is complex.

As for fruit trees, berry bushes, the scale insects prefer to destroy seedlings or young bushes and trees. They quickly destroy a young vineyard, destroy cherry and apple trees in the orchards, feast on gooseberries in the garden, and do not miss the planting of conifers.