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Scale insects

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Scale insects overview

The scale insects comprise a large group of pest species.

For the lay person they can be classified into three groups:

  • Hard (armoured) scale insects
  • Soft scale insects
  • Wax scale insects

Treatment options for control of scale insects

Many scale insects have effective natural enemies, some of which are commercially available. Avoiding toxic pesticides and creating the right environment for beneficial insect to thrive are important to good scale management. Oil sprays can be an effective tool as a soft option for helping reduce scale insect populations.

Red scale on citrus. Aphytis wasps are efficient parasitoids of red scale. (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
White louse scale on citrus trunk - a favourite food for Chilocorus beetles (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Pink wax scale (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Hemiberlesia cyanophylli scale insect on blueberry cane
Red scale on citrus-leaf. The yellow discolouration is associated with toxins injected by the scale insects. (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Red scale on citrus (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Pink wax scale (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Pink wax scale (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)
Red scale on young citrus tree (Photo: Dan Papacek, Bugs for Bugs)

Solutions

Aphytis adult wasp laying an egg into red scale (photo Denis Crawford - Graphic Science)
Aphytis pupa on red scale on citrus

Aphytis

Aphytis wasps are efficient parasitoids of red scale in citrus and passionvine. The adult wasp deposits her egg under the cover of the scale insect where it consumes the host during its development.
Adult green lacewing
(Photo: Dan Papacek)

Lacewing

Lacewings are general predators that prey on many small insects. Lacewings feed readily on a wide range of scale insect pests.
Close-up of a small orange beetle with black spots on bark.
Caterpillar with black spines on a cream body, resting on a textured earthy surface.

Chilocorus

Chilocorus ladybird beetles are specialist feeders on a range of hard (armoured) scale insects such as white louse scale, red scale and San José scale.
Cryptolaemus adult beetle feeding on young mealybug (Photo: Denis Crawford)
Cryptolaemus larva feeding on green coffee scale

Cryptolaemus

Although better known as mealybug predators, Cryptolaemus ladybird beetles can do an excellent job on many soft scale insects including soft brown scale, black scale (brown olive scale), pulvinaria scale and cottony cushion scale.
Biobest logo with bee illustration, promoting sustainable crop management.

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Disclaimer:

While we make every effort to supply you with beneficial insects and mites to help improve your pest management, and to reduce the need for pesticides, we cannot guarantee the outcome in every situation.  Our biocontrol agents do feed readily on the species that we have specified in our tech sheets and on our website.  However, there are many variables including accurate pest identification, plant species, pest density, numbers of beneficials released, environmental conditions and history of pesticide usage that influence the outcomes.  We will always do our best to help you achieve a positive outcome but we simply cannot guarantee that your problem will be solved to your satisfaction.  Because every situation is unique we are constantly learning about how best to use our good bugs.  We appreciate any feedback from your experience.

The entomology team, Bugs for Bugs.