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LECANIUM SCALE
DESCRIPTION OF LECANIUM SCALE
Several species of soft scales, referred to as Lecanium scales, feed on the sap of shade trees and shrubs. This rounded insect is brown and can range from 1/8 inch to 1/6 inch in size. In many cases it is the signs of the scale infestation that is noticed before the scale itself is detected. Lecanium scale will produce large volumes of a liquid waste called honeydew. The honeydew gives leaves a shiny appearance and will often attract honeybees and wasps. A black fungus called sooty mold will also grow on the honeydew.
LIFE CYCLE OF LECANIUM SCALE
Lecanium scale overwinters as a nymph on plant twigs. The insect matures in the spring and females lay eggs in May and June. Each female scale insect is capable of laying 1,000 to 5000 eggs. Egg hatch usually occurs in May or June. The newly hatched scale insects, called crawlers, migrate to the leaves where they feed throughout the summer. In late summer they move back to the twigs where they spend the winter under a thin, waxy shield. There is one generation per year.
HOW TO CONTROL LECANIUM SCALE
Controlling Lecanium scale insects can be challenging and treatments may need to be repeated over several growing seasons. Proper timing is essential to controlling scale insects. Tree spraying will achieve maximum impact if the treatments are applied in June or July. Dormant oil treatments can be applied in late fall and early spring for overwintering nymphs.
Systemic insecticide treatments with Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control) can be applied as a soil drench around the base of affected plants. This can be applied anytime during the growing season provided there is adequate soil moisture to allow the plant to absorb and translocate the material.
Proper cultural practices are necessary to reduce plant stress. Scale insects thrive on stressed plants. Fertilization and watering will increase plant health and vigor. Creating or enlarging mulch beds will reduce root competition with adjacent lawn areas.
Photo: James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
● Leonard
Owen Tree Service provides tree, lawn, and landscape services to the following cities and towns:
Genesee County, Michigan:
● Burton
● Davison
● Flushing
● Goodrich
● Linden
● Otisville
● Clio
● Fenton
● Gaines
● Grand Blanc
● Montrose
● Otter Lake
● Flint
● Genesee
● Lennon
● Mt Morris
● Swartz Creek
Lapeer County, Michigan:
● Almont
● Brown City
● Columbiaville
● Imlay City
● Metamora
● Peck
● Attica
● Clifford
● Dryden
● Lapeer
● North Branch
● Sandusky
● Hadley
● Mayville
● Otter Lake
● Silverwood
Macomb County, Michigan:
● Armada
● Clinton Twp
● Grosse Pointe
● Macomb
● New Haven
● St Clair Shores
● Centerline
● Detroit
● Grosse Pointe Farms
● Ray
● Sterling Heights
● Chesterfield
● Eastpointe
● Grosse Pointe Shores
● Memphis
● Romeo
● Utica
● Clinton
● Fraser
● Grosse Pointe Woods
● Mt Clemens
● Roseville
● Warren
● Harrison Twp
● New Baltimore
● Shelby Twp
● Washington
Oakland County, Michigan:
● Auburn Hills
● Bloomfield Village
● Ferndale
● Orion
● South Lyon
● Berkley
● Clarkston
● Franklin
● Madison Heights
● Ortonville
● Southfield
● Beverly Hills
● Clawson
● Hazel Park
● Milford
● Oxford
● Troy
● Bingham Farms
● Commerce Twp
● Highland
● Novi
● Pleasant Ridge
● Walled Lake
● Birmingham
● Davisburg
● Holly
● Oak Park
● Pontiac
● Waterford
● Bloomfield
● Detroit
● Huntington Woods
● Oakland
● Rochester
● West Bloomfield
● Bloomfield Hills
● Farmington
● Lake Orion
● Oakland Twp
● Rochester Hills
● White Lake
● Farmington Hills
● Lathrup Village
● Orchard Lake
● Royal Oak
● Wixom
St. Clair County, Michigan:
● Algonac
● Casco
● East China
● Harbor Beach
● Lexington
● Peck
● Allenton
● Clay
● Emmett
● Harsens Island
● Marine City
● Port Huron
● Berlin
● Clyde
● Fair Haven
● Jeddo
● Marysville
● Richmond
● Brockway
● Columbus
● Fort Gratiot
● Kimball
● Memphis
● Sandusky
● Capac
● Cottrellville
● Goodells
● Lakeport
● North Street
● St Clair
