SCALE CONTROL
ABOUT SCALE INSECTS
Scale insects are small pests that feed on plant sap, weakening plants over time. While adults are immobile once settled on a plant, they spread through their mobile juvenile stage, called crawlers. These tiny, wingless crawlers move across plant surfaces, seeking new feeding sites and can be transported by wind, water, animals, or human activity. Once they find a suitable spot, they attach to the plant, begin feeding, and develop into immobile adults covered by a waxy coating that resembles scales or shells. This protective armor shields the insect as it causes damage, including yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and even plant death. Scale insects also produce honeydew, fostering sooty mold and attracting pests like ants. They belong to the Coccoidea superfamily and include about 8,000 species.
IDENTIFICATION OF SCALE INFESTATION
Scale insects are often hidden under their protective, waxy coatings, making them difficult to spot. They can appear as small, circular or oval-shaped bumps on the stems, leaves, and branches of plants. While some scale insects are soft and easy to crush (soft scale), others are armored and more resilient (hard scale). Common signs of an infestation include discolored or damaged leaves, stunted growth, and the presence of sticky honeydew on plant surfaces or surrounding areas.
CULTURAL STRATEGIES
Cultural strategies focus on creating an environment that is favorable for plants and less hospitable to pests. Cultivation practices such as maintaining healthy soil, crop rotation, mulching, and companion planting help to create unfavorable conditions for pests.
PHYSICAL / MECHANICAL CONTROL STRATEGIES
Physical or mechanical control strategies involve the use of physical barriers, tools, or methods to prevent, monitor, or control pests. We offer several products to help with physical/mechanical control, such as:
- Beneficial Insect Netting to keep the good bugs in and the bad bugs out.
- Diatomaceous Earth to create unfavorable conditions for soft-bodied pest insects.
BIOLOGICAL STRATEGIES
One of the most natural and effective ways to control pest insects is by introducing beneficial insects to your garden. Releasing beneficials creates a self-sustaining solution, where natural predators keep pest populations in check. This approach not only protects your plants but also supports biodiversity, making it an ideal choice for eco-friendly pest control.
Unlike harsh chemicals, natural predators take time to establish a population. This is why we recommend releasing the good bugs before pest infestations are heavy.
GENERAL PREDATORS
- Ladybugs control aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mites, thrips, & more.
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Green Lacewing Larvae control aphids, small caterpillars, mealybugs, leafhoppers, whiteflies, mites, scale, thrips, & more.
- Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug) controls all life stages of thrips, mites, moth eggs, aphids, & more.
TARGETED SCALE CONTROL
- Lindorus lophanthae controls a variety of scale such as California red, San Jose, Florida, oleander, hemispherical, brown soft, citrus, cottony cushion, euonymus, magnolia, & many more.
- Aphytis melinus controls a variety of scale such as California red, ivy, oleander, San Jose, Walnut, dictyospermum, & many more.
SOFT CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS
If infestations have gotten too heavy, we also offer soft chemical treatments such as neem oil and insecticidal soap.
