Florida Wax Scale Biology and Management

1
Florida Wax Scale Biology and Management

• Bastiaan M. Drees,
• Professor and Extension Entomologist

CD 25, http//AV-Library.tamu.edu also see Fact
Sheets EEE-00023 EEE-00024 at
http//insects.tamu.edu Apr. 2005
2
Infested Hedgerows in Texas
3
Wet or Soft Wax Scale
Florida wax scale, Ceraplastes floridensis
Comstock (Homoprera Coccidae)
4
Wax Scale Biology
Scales on leaf veins petioles and stems hard to
control with systemic insecticides or cover with
foliar sprays sooty mold grows on honeydew
exuded by scales barklice (Psocoptera)
associated with sooty mold colonize
scale-infested plants
5
Live Scales, Dead Females with Eggs
April 23, 2004
6
Egg Hatch and Crawlers
May 20, 2004
7
Egg Hatch and Crawlers
and September 18, 2004
8
Alternate Hosts
Photinia (photo by N. Riggs)
9
Other Host Plants

• Elephant ear
• Honeysuckle
• Pomagranite
• Virginia creeper
• Winged elm
• Golden Euonymus
• Others

10
Management Considerations

• Proper horticultural methods
• Select non-host plants or resistant
  varieties/cultivars
• If not
• Proper planting, fertilization, watering of
  susceptible plants
• Monitor for early signs of infestation

11
Pruning Prior to Insecticide Treatment
12
Soil/Systemic TreatmentExample provided Bayer
Advanced Garden Tree Shrub Insect Control
(1/47 imidacloprid)
13
Preparation
14
Read the Label
15
(No Transcript)
16
Measure Plant Height
17
Wear Protective Clothing
18
Agitate/Shake the Container
19
Measure Proper Amount
20
Agitate While Mixing
21
Drench Soil Under Drip Line
22
Rinse and Water-In
23
Putting It All Together
24
Foliar Treatment

• Example provided Orthene Tree, Turf
  Ornamental Spray
• (75 acephate soluble powder)

25
Read the Label
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
Add Some Water First
29
Measure Proper Amount
30
Finish Adding Water
31
Wear Protective Clothing
32
Thorough Coverage!
33
Spray Underside of Foliage
34
Spray Top of Foliage
35
Putting It All Together
36
(No Transcript)
37
Other Landscape Insect Pests Managed Similarly,
Although Timing of Treatments Will Vary

• Other scale insects and mealybugs
• Aphids
• Lace bugs

38
Crape Myrtle Aphids
39
Lace Bugs (Azalea, Hawthorne, Lantana)
40
Resources

• A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects (Drees
  Jackman 1998)
• http//www.amazon.com - 15.16 3.79 shipping
• ????? average consumer rating

41
RESOURCES

• http//insects.tamu.edu
• http//hortipm.tamu.edu
• http//vegipm.tamu.edu
• http//fireant.tamu.edu
• County Extension Agents
• B-6089, Field Guide to the Insects, Mites and
  Mollusks of Nursery, Floral and Greenhouse Crops,
  12.50

42
The information given herein is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products
or trade names is made with the understanding
that no discrimination is intended and no
endorsement by the Cooperative Extension is
implied.