Often I find that people that think the trees they have are covered with scale actually have lichens growing on them. Be sure you have scale.

Here is a link that might be useful: lichen images

Yikes, I've never known anyone to mistake lichen for scale insects!

Lenticels are often mistaken for scale, though. Greenthumb, are you referring to Laurus nobilis?

Yikes, I've never known anyone to mistake lichen for scale insects!

Lenticels are often mistaken for scale, though. Greenthumb, are you referring to Laurus nobilis?

have you talked with your county extension office????

ken

Greenthumb is from Slovenia.

well, I am pretty sure that it is scale on my laurus nobilis. every spring the little white babies start crawling on the leaf veins, and I also have that black covering on the leaves. the old ones cover the branches. Very disgusting. I have read that ladybirds and lacewings are their predators, but have not seen them at work, even though I do have them in my garden. For now that is the most environment friendly solution I have thought about, but don't know if it works. All the proffessionals in the area wanted to give me a very toxic spray, but when they heard it was a tree, they said that every attempt will be futile. And I am not cutting it down :)

Greenthumb, the standard control for scale insects is one of the horticultural oils, of which there are many kinds and brands. Oils fall into the "friendly" category. When used properly, they can provide good control of eggs, nymphs, and adults with very few problems for non-target species.

These oils are highly refined petroleum, paraffin, or plant oils, even fish oil. They are manufactured with emulsifiers so that mixing with water is easy. Read the directions carefully and follow them exactly. It is possible to damage your plants if attention isn't paid to the label.

yeah, but the oil works on contact which works on smaller plants and shrubs, because you have to hit all of them and many times over, because the bastards are hatching for a few months. This is a 25 feet tall tree with a wide canopy.. it proved impossible to keep up with their spreading. I poured so much oil over it and systemic insecticides too but every spring they come back... after 5 years, I'm ready to give up :)

and the older ones develop armor which makes them even harder to kill.