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Tea scale
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Posted by aggierose tx-dallas (My Page) on Tue, May 27, 08 at 11:18
| After several hours researching on the web, I have found that what is on my camellia leaves is definitely tea scale. And a very, very heavy infestation at that. I've read many different things online and I just wanted your thoughts. Many sources stated that spraying isn't very effective for 2 reasons. 1 - they are armoured which helps protect them, and 2 - you have to completely coat the underside of the leaves, which is hard to do. My camellia reaches the gutter of my house so spraying the underside of all the leaves will be difficult indeed. I read that a systemic is best. I've never used an insecticide in my front yard, but I guess I will if I have to in order to save this plant. Will ladybugs eat scale? Everywhere I read about ladybugs is shows that they eat scale. It doesn't mention what kind of scale so does that mean they will eat all scale? I might try that too. If I need to do something more, what insecticides do you recommend? I think I will go the systemic route because I really don't think it's possible for me to spray all the undersides of the leaves. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Tea scale
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Hello aggierose. Yes, they eat all types of scale. Parasitic wasps can also help control such infestations. See the comment that I left on your other posting. In it, I recommended a horticultural oil. This should usually be your first line of defense as the oil is not as deadly to lady bugs as the insecticides are. Since lady bugs and parasitic wasps are scale predators, use of both at the same time helps reduce infestations.
But you can, of course, use an insecticide instead, just try not to use it if you are releasing lady bugs or the insecticide will kill the lady bugs too, leaving your garden less protected. An Alabama Cooperative Extension test showed Dinotefuran, a.k.a Safari, is effective as a spray or as a soil drench for outdoor use. Re-apply after 10 days. You will still have to spray the underside of leaves. Damaged leaves will not drop right away; they will remain for one or two seasons. And yes, you will have to spray Safari next year too to obtain good control. |
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