There are other subtle differences between the two groups (Table 1). Horticultural oil sprays kill by suffocation and can provide excellent control of all scales. Adult females are about 1/8 inch long, oval and yellowish tan with a brown margin. Holly pit scale (Asterolecanium puteanum) is a pest on American, ‘Burford’, Japanese, and Yaupon hollies. These insects can secrete a waxy covering that protects them from the environmen… Spray late in the day and when no rainfall is expected within 24 hours. Wax scale can be 3-8mm in diameter and are white, cream, pink, or gray. The paths they follow turn yellowish brown and typically broaden into a blotch. Scales are unusual insects in appearance. Follow the product label for rate and application directions. in partial fulfillment of . There are two types of scales, soft or bark scales and hard or armored scales (Tables 1 and 2), which can be differ-entiated by their feeding habits. Photo Credit: ©2005 Buglady Consulting Florida wax scale is found along the leaf veins of holly. The cottony camellia scale is most commonly reported on holly in Kentucky, but it is also found on other hosts, including yew, euonymous, maple, and hydrangea. See Table 1 for examples of products containing these active ingredients. Hatching occurs through much of the year rather than in discrete generations. The shell also makes it difficult to use a pesticide because it has trouble reaching the insect inside. To avoid introducing these pathogens, purchase hollies with healthy roots and good foliage color. This causes a scalding, followed by invasion of secondary organisms and finally by scorching. Mites are not insects, but are more closely related to spiders. Spine Spot: Small, gray spots with purple halos are caused by the puncturing of the leaves by the spines of adjacent holly leaves. Scale insects generally look more like tiny growths on the foliage rather than actual bugs. They range from 1/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter and may be nearly flat to almost spherical in shape. Males are soft and white with a ridge down the back. (2) Inspect plants frequently. A 2% solution of horticulture oil may be sprayed when temperatures are between 45 and 90 °F. Check other nearby woody plants for infestations. REC, Lower Eastern Shore The Janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. See Table 1 for examples of products containing these active ingredients. 2 The larvae are about 1/16-inch long. Nymphs create the white, frothy spittlemass, which helps keep them moist and protects them from predators and parasites. Florida wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis) on Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta).United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs Archive, USDA Agricultural Research Service, www.forestryimages.org. Tea scale – Tea scale is most common on the underside of camellia and holly leaves. the . They lay white cottony ovisacs (egg masses) on the. These products should be applied when mites are present and again in seven to 10 days. submitted to . Symptoms of feeding include light yellow speckling on leaves. Control: In late summer or early fall when damage occurs, apply an insecticidal spray to control the adult feeding. This fungus primarily affects the root system and reduces plant vigor. In anticipation of adult spittlebug damage the next year, another means of control is to use a soil-applied insecticide in the spring as new growth appears on the shrubs. Phytophthora Root Rot: The water mold fungus, Phytophthora cinnamomi, causes root rot on hollies growing in very poorly drained sites or wet areas. Control: Naturally occurring predators of mites include various predatory mites, ladybird beetles, and other insects. American holly (I. opaca) cultivars are particularly susceptible to leafminer damage. OREGON STATE COLLEGE . The adult is about a ⅓-inch long and brown with two orangish-red stripes on the wings. Photo Credit: ©2006 Buglady Consulting Black sooty mold was found on these magnolia leaves. 1) Azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azalea A scale infestation is indicated by sooty mold on leaves, yellowing of leaves, and twig dieback. Identification of the scale is important as it may aid in better control. Neem oil extract or botanical oil sprays may also reduce plant damage by repelling many insect pests. If infestations are heavy and sooty mold is objectionable, spray horticultural oil in the dormant season. Some soft scales may bear their young alive. In contrast, the waxy secretion of soft scale is an integral, inseparable portion of the body. Fungicide drenches are not generally recommended for landscape use since infected plants cannot be cured. Pest description and damage Brown soft scale are yellowish to dark brown insects (adults are usually darker). Holly leaf damage from adult feeding can be leaf distortion, wilting, discoloration of younger leaves, blotches on older leaves, and leaf-drop. An insecticidal spray containing one of the following active ingredients will reduce damage by adult spittlebugs: acephate, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, or permethrin. Central Maryland Cottony taxus scale on yew. Indian wax scale (Ceroplases ceriferus) is a soft scale that may infest Chinese and Yaupon hollies. During the growing season use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to conserve beneficials. Remove infected plant material and surrounding soil. The scale used in the table is pounds-force. Planting too deeply and over-mulching may also contribute to disease development. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Look for lady beetles and other beneficial insect populations associated with scale infestation. The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental plants, like holly. OF SOF'r d C \ L.E S . It is important that you monitor their development carefully and regularly in order to determine the optimum time to spray. An oil spray should be applied before new growth begins to kill both over-wintering adults and eggs. Horticultural Oil Precautions Test the spray on a leaf or two. Some soft scales may also have a hard covering present, but it will be smooth or with ridges, but no overlapping layers. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson UniversityClyde S. Gorsuch, PhD, Emeritus Faculty, Entomology, Clemson University, Joey Williamson, PhD, HGIC Horticulture Extension Agent, Clemson University. Good spray coverage of the lower leaf surfaces is important, as most mites will feed there. Adults are relatively protected from insecticides by their waxy covering. Inspect your holly bush to confirm that a soft scale infestation is causing the black sooty mold. Avoid using contact insecticides unless the plant is very valuable and in serious danger from scale. We embody the University's land-grant mission with a commitment to eliminate hunger, preserve our natural resources, improve quality of life, and empower the next generation through world-class education. Scale Look-Alikes Female tea scale covers are brown and boat-shaped. Black Root Rot: Black root rot is caused by the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola. Drench = Add to water and pour around base of plant. Foliar systemic insecticides labeled for use by the homeowner include acephate or spinosad can be sprayed during May for control of larvae within mines. Soft scales vary widely in color, size, and shape. As with all pesticides, read and follow all label instructions and precautions. The larvae then tunnel through the leaf between the upper and lower surfaces. A second generation of eggs is laid, again in turfgrass, where the nymphs will feed. Insecticides will often kill the naturally occurring predators of scale. They are small and immobile, with no visible legs. Scale … Parasitic wasps and birds are natural predators of these pests. Always choose locations that have good drainage for planting. * Fletcher scale * Apple aphid on crabapples * Honeylocust spider mite. Plant resistant varieties into nematode-free soils. ‘Savannah’, ‘East Palatka’, and ‘Foster’ hollies may be significantly damaged by adult spittlebug feeding in the late summer and early fall. See Table 1 for examples of products containing these active ingredients. Tea scale likes the undersides of camellia and holly leaves. Soft scales are larger than the armored scales and vary from 1/12 to 1/4 inch in length. Control: Light infestations of scale can be scraped off by hand or infested branches pruned out. Scale insects also secrete a sticky liquid called honeydew, which promotes the fungal disease black sooty mold. HOLLY . Purple Leaf Scorch: The most common leaf discoloration is a purplish blotch due to the environment rather than a fungus. Adults, eggs, and cast skins (white) of southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis).John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, www.forestryimages.org. Scales vary in appearance depending on age, sex, and species. The drainage of existing areas can be improved by using raised beds. Prevention & Treatment: Remove and destroy badly spotted leaves, prune to improve air circulation and overcrowding, and clean up and destroy fallen leaves. (1) Select plant material that is not prone to scale infestation. As with all pesticides, read and follow all label instructions and precautions. Flip an adult scale over, and if there is a separate soft body beneath the hard shell, it is an armored scale. There can be up to five generations per year. The nymph (immature stage) is white or yellowish and without wings. If insecticides are going to be used, spray when crawlers are observed. Field Key to Identification of Scale Insects on Holly (Ilex spp.) The newly hatched crawlers move about the plant for a few days to several weeks before attaching to feed. These turn reddish-brown and finally black by fall. Most parasitic nematodes feed by a stylet, sucking juices from plant cells. This leaf scorching is caused by the presence of water or ice on the leaves at the time the sun is shining brightly. The symptoms of this disease and black root rot are similar. There's also an oleander scale. See Table 1 for examples of products containing the active ingredient. In South Carolina, the native holly leafminer (Phytomyza ilicicola) is the most common. Soft Scales Found on Trees and Shrubs - The following are examples of commonly found scale insects that infest deciduous, broadleaf, and evergreen plants. Cottony camellia scale is a soft scale that feeds on camellia, holly, yew, euonymus, sweetbox, and maple. Insecticidal soap sprays can provide control when applied before population numbers get too high. Promptly dispose of prunings. More than one spray may be required. Some species may be found on the branches as well. Soft Scales (Coccidae) Over 60 species of soft scales occur in Florida. There are two generations of two-lined spittlebugs in South Carolina, and this insect over-winters as eggs (generally laid in turfgrass). Additionally, there are less toxic spray fungicides that contain sulfur or copper soap, and biological control sprays for plant diseases that contain Bacillus subtilis. They lay white cottony ovisacs (egg masses) on the undersides of leaves in May. Winter Damage: Symptoms of winter damage may be browning of leaves, marginal leaf scorch, defoliation, twig and limb death, and death of entire plants. Those ants will protect the source of their honeydew. Common Soft Scales Wax scale – There are many species of wax scale that look similar (Figure 1). After approximately a month, the nymphs become winged adults, which also feed upon turfgrass sap. Typically, yellowing of the leaves (particularly at the shoot tips), early leaf drop, slowed plant growth, and twig dieback are seen at early stages of the disease. Plants may appear water-stressed, and there may be a yellowing of foliage followed by leaf drop. The creamy colored 'bumps' on the stems of your holly tree are most likely Indian Wax Scale. Leafminer damage on American holly (Ilex opaca).Daniel Herms, The Ohio State University, www.forestryimages.org. Some, such as ... Cottony Scale The bane of many holly growers, cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera, is also called cottony taxus scale. The Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, is one of the most commonly encountered soft scales throughout the southern United States, where it is a serious pest of citrus and several ornamental plants, like holly. Leafminers: Leafminers (Phytomyza species) are common pests of hollies. Wait 24 to 36 hours to make sure the … For example, sprays with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem oil extract, spinosad, Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. Scale insects feed on shrubs' sap using their long, piercing mouthparts, causing twig and branch dieback and sometimes killing the plants. Prevention & Treatment: Presently there are no effective chemicals registered for control of nematodes in existing landscape plants. Honeydew, the sticky, sweet secretion that soft scales exude, is a favorite food of some species of ants. Mites can be removed with a strong spray of water, if applied on a regular basis. Infected roots are dark brown to black, usually starting at the root tips. Horticulture oil may be sprayed when temperatures are between 45 and 90 degrees and no rainfall is predicted within 24 hours. In years of heavy rainfall, berries as well as leaves are spotted. Holly tree pests such as scale, mites, and holly leaf miner are the most commonly seen affecting hollies. Populations of southern red mites usually peak in spring and fall. Florida red scale and purple scale attack citrus. This “spine spot” is often confused with the slits made by the holly leafminer. Southern red mite adults are reddish brown and less than 1/50-inch long. Only the soft scale bugs produce this liquid, which tends to drip on leaves and objects below it. Figure 11. Cottony camellia scale is a soft scale that feeds on camellia, holly, yew, euonymus, sweetbox, and maple. Soft scales and certain other types feed on phloem sap and excrete abundant, sticky honeydew, which drips on plants and surfaces underneath and promotes the growth of blackish sooty mold. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Chinese holly cultivar ‘Burford’ and Yaupon holly cultivar ‘Nana’ are tolerant to root-knot, stunt, and ring nematodes. It produces long, narrow and unavoidably obvious ovisacs on … Heavy infestations in the spring may cause the leaves to turn light green. They are typically found on the undersurfaces of leaves and look like small brownish or grayish bumps. 2  Armored scale secretes a hard shell over its body for protection from predators. COVID-19 Extension Updates and Resources ... More Information », Factsheet | HGIC 2055 | Updated: Jan 13, 2020 | Print | Download (PDF), Damaged Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) roots infected with black root rot.Division of Plant Industry Archive, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, www.forestryimages.org. We have reports that some eggs have been found in Howard County. For heavier infestations, spray with a horticultural oil in the early spring to kill adults. Keep plants watered during periods of drought. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. These hollies are a no maintenance shrub with a nice soft foliage unlike other hollies. Prevention & Treatment: Hollies grown under stress are much more sensitive to root rot disease than are well-maintained, vigorous plants. Coccus hesperidum. Prevention & Treatment: The fungus has the ability to persist in the soil for many years, even in the absence of susceptible plants. The bumps might look waxy, fuzzy or smooth. Soft Touch Hollies give off a nice dark green color with light green new growth. requirements for t h e … Always try less toxic alternative sprays first for the control of insect pests and diseases. Greedy scale (Hemiberlesia rapax) is an armored scale that has been reported on ‘East Palatka’ holly. Crawler activity often coincides with the flush of new plant growth in the spring. However, it is very important to always read and follow the label directions on each product. Yellow spots appear on the leaves of American and English hollies in May. Japanese hollies (I. cenata) are very intolerant of poorly drained soils and are especially prone to root rot. Scale insects are small, inconspicuous insects that use hair-like mouthparts to extract plant sap from leaves or branches. Yaupon holly (I. vomitoria) and American holly (I. opaca) are moderately resistant, while Japanese hollies (I. crenata) are very susceptible to black root rot. They live in organic matter in the soil or on roots and other parts of living plants. As an alternative, a soil application of dinotefuran or imidacloprid is effective in controlling the larvae within the leaves. These products contain imidacloprid, which will move up and throughout the shrub and protect the holly from most insect damage for a year. Crawlers settle on undersides of leaves and begin to feed on leaves during June. Scale – While light infestations of scale can usually be controlled by hand, scale control for heavier infestations generally requires the use of horticultural oil. Often, the root system will continue to disintegrate until the plant dies. Japanese hollies, particularly ‘Helleri’, are not very tolerant to low soil moisture, particularly for the first several years after planting. Holly Tree Pests. Its cottony egg sac and profuse honeydew production make cottony cushion scale easy to spot in the landscape. The insecticide that oils are used for the most are armored scales (pine needle scale, euonymus scale, oystershell scale). Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. LINN ., AND . Its leaves are very small and slow growing with a soft texture. Root rot pathogens are often introduced into the landscape on diseased container plants. However, their immature forms, called crawlers, are susceptible. Due to product cost and for accurate application, homeowners may want to hire a licensed landscaper to apply products containing these fungicides. It is also reported on beautyberry, jasmine, mulberry, and hydrangea. It is also reported on beautyberry, jasmine, mulberry, and hydrangea. There are over 180 species of scale insects in Florida, but only a small percentage are important pests of ornamental plants (Dekle 1976; Hamon and Williams 1984). by . The presence of many punctures can result in deformed leaves. The Janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0.444" steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. Insecticides labeled for homeowner use against scale crawlers include acephate, malathion, cyfluthrin, lambda- cyhalothrin, permethrin, and bifenthrin. Treat shrubs with dinotefuran or imidacloprid in the early spring for season-long protection. This fungus primarily affects the root system and reduces plant vigor. Leafminers are the larvae (immature forms) of small (about ⅛-inch in length) black and gray flies. Scale insects (armored scales, soft scales) All types of woody ornamentals and trees. However, some scale species may have overlapping generations with an extended crawler emergence period, such as along the coast. Southern Red Mite: Southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis) is an important pest of hollies, especially I. crenata ‘Convexa’, a Japanese holly. 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