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Oystershell Scale

Description:

  • masses of grayish/brown bodies resembling oyster shells, 2.5mm long
  • tiny, flattened crawlers, 0.3mm, no legs, no eyes, no apparent antenna

What it attacks:

  • heath, heather, ash, hydrangea, lilac, willow, poplar, maple, apple, crabapple, horsechestnut, elm, cotoneaster, birch, beech, viburnum

Damage:

  • scale covers twigs & branches (fully covers before moving on)
  • can kill tree branches
  • can weaken whole trees
  • crawlers feed on twigs, branches, flowers, fruit

Prevention/Control:

  • prune out infested twigs, branches
  • scrape/rub off scale
  • dormant oil
  • safers soap
  • attract beneficial insects (see Beneficial Insects & Others)
  • For suggestions on chemical control of this insect, see the Pesticides section under Gardeners.

Insect Seen When...:

  • Lilac flowers are 50% bloom
  • Lupins begin to bloom
  • Vanhouti spiraea begin to bloom

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