Many armored scales are serious pests of ornamental shrubs, trees, groundcovers, and turfgrasses in South Carolina. Almost 40% of the Clemson Plant Problem Clinic sample submissions for home landscapes during 2012 and 2013 were scale insect pests, and of these, almost 90% of the species were the more difficult to control armored scales. Twenty-four different armored scales were identified on residential landscape plants. As winters have become warmer in recent years, additional insect pests may have extended their range more northward into South Carolina from Florida and coastal Georgia. More armored scale samples on ornamentals were submitted from the coastal areas of South Carolina than from the rest of the state, probably due to the milder winter weather there (see Table 1 for scale insects identified).
Table 1. Armored Scale Insects Identified on Landscape Plants by the Clemson University Plant Problem Clinic in 2012 & 2013
Armored Scale | Host Plant |
Coastal Area | |
Holly Pit Scale | American Holly |
Pine Needle Scale | Loblolly Pine |
California Red Scale & False oleander Scale | Oleander |
Tea Scale | Camellia |
Tea Scale | Japanese Camellia |
Tea Scale | Camellia |
Tea Scale & Greedy Scale | Southern Magnolia |
Greedy Scale | East Palatka Holly |
Greedy Scale | Indian Hawthorn |
White Peach Scale | Flowering Cherry |
Citrus Snow Scale | Lemon, Tangerine & Grapefruit Trees |
Purple Scale | Grapefruit |
Obscure Scale | Flowering Dogwood |
Gloomy Scale | Red Maple |
Palmetto Scale | Palm |
False Oleander Scale | Southern Magnolia |
Bermudagrass Scale | St. Augustinegrass |
Mid-State | |
Pine Needle Scale | Shore Juniper |
Palm Fiorinia Scale | Holly (evergreen) |
Maskell Scale | Leyland Cypress |
Bermudagrass Scale | Centipedegrass |
Bermudagrass Scale | Centipedegrass |
Upstate | |
Greedy Scale | Common Boxwood |
Unknown Armored Scale | Sabel Palmetto |
Pine Needle Scale | Japanese Cryptomeria |
Lesser Snow Scale | Cherry Laurel |
Asian Cycad Scale | Sabal Palmetto |
Oystershell Scale | Pachysandra |
Elongate Hemlock Scale | Eastern Hemlock |
Euonymus Scale | Euonymus |
Peony Scale | Japanese Holly |
Cryptomeria Scale | Japanese Cryptomeria |
Some armored scales damage only branches, while others infest foliage or fruits. A severe infestation of armored scales may weaken or kill a tree or shrub.
Scale adults are the most noticeable stage on plants, and these may be white, gray, or brown. Adult scales may be round, pear-shaped, or oyster-shell shaped but vary somewhat depending on the species. They secrete a waxy protective covering over their body, which makes control difficult. Some or all life stages of the scale may be found throughout the year (eggs, crawlers or immatures, nymphs, and adults).
Armored scales do not produce honeydew as do soft scales. The test (hard covering over the adult armored scales) will often have concentric rings or overlapping layers. Some soft scales may also have a hard covering present, but it will be smooth or with ridges but no overlapping layers. Flip an adult scale over, and if there is a separate soft body beneath the hard shell, it is an armored scale.
Identification of the scale is important as it may aid in better control. A sample of the infested plant material may be taken to the local Clemson Extension Service county office. From there, it will be sent to the Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic at Clemson University for accurate insect identification.
Cultural Control on Ornamentals
Plants should be kept as healthy as possible to reduce the chance of scale infestation. Plants under stress are more susceptible to armored scale infestations. Maintain plant vigor, but do not over-fertilize trees and shrubs, as this can lead to increased scale problems. Fertilize trees and shrubs approximately mid-March along the coast or April 1st in the upstate with a slow-release tree & shrub fertilizer. Use an azalea and camellia fertilizer for plants that require acidic soil. Follow fertilizer label directions for rate.
Water trees and shrubs as needed during periods of no rainfall, which is usually no more than weekly during the growing season and monthly during the winter. The rate of irrigation water should be 1” per application. Mulch plants out as far as the drip line of the branches at 3” deep to conserve soil moisture. Do not use weed killers, such as weed and feed products, beneath the canopy of trees and shrubs, as this will add another stress factor to the plants.
For new plantings, plant trees and shrubs in the proper amount of sunlight for the species, plant at the correct depth, and prepare the soil for best growth. For more information on planting, see HGIC 1050, Choosing a Planting Location, HGIC 1052, Planting Shrubs Correctly, and HGIC 1001, Planting Trees Correctly.
If only a portion of the shrub is infested, prune out heavily infested shoots or limbs and promptly dispose of prunings.
Chemical Control on Ornamentals
In general, avoid using contact insecticides as much as possible as they will often kill the naturally occurring enemies of scale insects. Most contact insecticides cannot penetrate the waxy covering on scale nymphs and adults, so the crawler stage is the only life stage that these insecticides control. Failure of contact sprays to work often results from not timing the applications to coincide with crawler activity.
Crawler activity often coincides with the flush of new plant growth in the spring. However, with some scale insects, there may be overlapping generations with an extended crawler emergence period. The crawler emergence can be monitored with double-faced tape wrapped around a branch or by putting an infested shoot or leaf into a baggie and watch for crawler movement. The presence of crawlers can sometimes be determined by sharply tapping an infested twig on a piece of white paper. Crawlers are very small and will appear as moving specks of dust.
Horticultural Oils: Horticultural oils are safe to use and are especially good choices for sensitive areas, such as where people are present soon after treatment. Because of their short residual, they help to conserve beneficial insect species. If possible, time spray applications to coincide with the scale crawler stage, which is most susceptible to all insecticides.
With good spray coverage, horticultural oil sprays may kill all stages of scales that are present at the time of application and often give good control as they kill by suffocation. However, as with all pesticides, multiple applications may be necessary depending upon the scale species and the degree of infestation. It may take multiple applications to control the armored scales because of the layers of adult scales protecting each other, but the horticultural oil is the most efficient, the safest, and the least harmful to beneficial insects.
Horticultural oils are of the highest grade and may be used on tolerant plants during the growing season but at reduced spray concentrations. Tall trees are difficult to treat, but smaller landscape trees and shrubs can be sprayed during the growing season with 1 to 2% horticultural oil. This rate would be 2½ to 5 tablespoons of oil per gallon of water in a pump-up sprayer. If the spring foliage is not out yet on a deciduous plant, spray with a horticultural oil spray so that better coverage of the trunk and limbs is possible. For application during the dormant season, late fall through early spring, apply horticultural oil sprays at 2 to 4% mixture (5 to 10 tablespoons of oil per gallon of water).
Most trees and shrubs can tolerate an application of horticultural oil even during the summer months. However, during high heat and humidity, coupled with drought, some trees, such as maples, are sensitive to oil applications. New needle growth on Eastern hemlocks is sensitive to horticultural oil sprays until the needles mature. Refer to the product label for guidelines on plant sensitivity and any temperature restrictions. In general, sprays should be applied when temperatures are between 45 and 85 °F, and no rainfall is forecast for 24 hours. To reduce the chance of injury due to drought stress, water the trees or shrubs well a couple of days before spraying. If any phytotoxicity (damage) occurs on foliage with oil sprays, wait until leaf drop for additional spray applications (in the fall). A more dilute spray is applied when foliage is present on some sensitive plants to avoid causing injury.
For most small landscape trees and shrubs, apply these spray applications when new leaves start to expand in the spring. At least three applications are needed at five- to six-week intervals. Even when sprays are properly timed, repeated applications may be needed if crawler activity extends over time. Spray the plants thoroughly so that the oils drip or “run-off” from the upper and undersides of leaves, twigs, and plant stems. See Table 2 for examples of horticultural oils for scale control.
Contact Insecticides: Contact insecticides can be sprayed if timed correctly, but only for control of scale crawlers; however, for safety reasons, one must be very careful when spraying contact insecticides upward onto tall shrubs and trees. See the product label for protective clothing and protective equipment that should be used. To reduce the chance of killing pollinating insects, make pesticide applications when shrubs and trees are not in bloom, and always spray in the early evening. Insecticides that may be applied for crawler control are acephate, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, malathion, permethrin, or insecticidal soap. See Table 2 for examples of contact insecticides for scale crawler control.
Soil Applied Systemic Insecticides: Although soil treatments with common insecticide products that contain imidacloprid will control some tree and shrub pests, such as aphids, lace bugs, and white flies, these products do little to control both soft and armored scales. In fact, treatments with imidacloprid may very well increase populations of spider mites on the plants during the summer.
However, systemic products containing dinotefuran will aid in soft and armored scale control. The granular products are applied around the base of the tree or shrub and watered into the soil. The liquid products are mixed with water and slowly poured around the base of the plant. If additional control is needed (beyond the use of horticultural oil sprays), apply one of these dinotefuran products in the spring as new growth appears. However, evergreen plants can also be treated in the fall. The majority (approximately three-fourths) of the ornamental plant species infested with armored scales that were identified in the last two years were evergreen plants. Dinotefuran soil treatment can be used in combination with horticultural oil sprays for improved control. These products may be purchased at landscaper supply stores or ordered on-line. See Table 2 for examples of soil-applied products for armored scale control, as well as soft scale control.
Table 2. Insecticide Active Ingredients & Products Labeled for Control of Armored Scale Insects in Residential Landscapes
Active Ingredients | Examples of Brands & Products |
Soil Applied Systemic Insecticide for Ornamentals | |
Dinotefuran | Gordon’s Zylam Liquid Systemic Insecticide
Valent Safari 20 SG Insecticide |
Spray Foliar Systemic Insecticide for Ornamentals | |
Acephate | BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules with 6-9-6 Fertilizer
Bonide Systemic Insect Control II |
Spray Contact Insecticides (for crawler control only) for Ornamentals | |
Bifenthrin | Hi-Yield Bug Blaster Bifenthrin 2.4 Ready to Spray
Hi-Yield Bug Blaster II Bifenthrin 2.4 Ready to Spray Monterey Mite & Insect Control Monterey Mosquito Control Martin’s FLEE Ready to Use Yard Spray Ortho Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate Ortho Outdoor Insect Killer Ready to Spray Ortho Bug B Gon Insect Killer for Lawns & Gardens Ortho Bug B Gon Insect Killer for Lawns & Gardens1 Ortho BugClear Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes Bifen I/T Talstar P Professional Insecticide Up-Star Gold Insecticide Hi-Yield Vegetable & Ornamental Insect Control Granules Bonide Eight Insect Control Flower & Vegetable Above & Below Soil Insect Granules |
Cyhalothrin | Bonide Eight Insect Control Garden & Home II Ready to Use
Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide Martin’s Cyonara Lawn & Garden Insect Control Martin’s Cyonara Lawn & Garden Insect Control Ready-to-Spray Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes |
Cyfluthrin | BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 24 Hour Lawn Insect Killer Ready-to-Spray
BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Complete Brand Insect Killer for Soil & Turf Ready-to-Spray I BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Insect Killer for Lawns Ready-to-Spray BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-to-Use |
Horticultural Oil | Bonide All Seasons Horticulture Spray Oil Ready-to-Use
Bonide All Seasons Horticulture & Dormant Spray Oil Ready-to-Spray Ferti-lome Horticultural Oil Spray Monterey Horticultural Oil Concentrate Monterey Horticultural Oil RTU Safer Brand Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil Concentrate Southern Ag Parafine Horticultural Oil Summit Year-Round Spray Oil |
Insecticidal Soap | Bonide Insecticidal Soap Multi-purpose Insect Control Ready to Use
Espoma Organic Insect Soap Multi-Purpose Insect Killer Garden Safe Brand Insecticidal Soap Insect Killer Miracle-Gro Nature’s Care Insecticidal Soap Natria Insecticidal Soap Ready-to-Use Natural Guard by ferti-lome Insecticidal Soap Concentrate Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate II Whitney Farms Insecticidal Soap 1 |
Malathion | Bonide Malathion 50% Insect Control
Gordon’s Malathion 50% Spray Hi-Yield 55% Malathion Insect Spray Martin’s Malathion 57% Ortho Max Malathion Insect Spray Concentrate Southern Ag Malathion 50% EC Spectracide Malathion Insect Spray Concentrate Tiger Brand 50% Malathion |
Permethrin | Bonide Eight Insect Control Vegetable, Fruit, & Flower Concentrate
Bonide Eight Yard & Garden Ready to Spray Hi-Yield 38 Plus Turf, Termite & Ornamental Insect Control Hi-Yield Lawn Garden Pet & Farm Insect Control Southern Ag Permetrol Lawn & Garden Insecticide Tiger Brand Super 10 Brand |
1RTS = Ready to Spray (a hose-end applicator) |
Pesticides are updated annually. Last updates were done on 8/24 by N. Jordan Franklin.
Originally published 11/13