Rhododendron scale disease is really stimulate by an insect , Eriococcus azaleae , commonly called azalea barque scale . It affects rhododendron phratry works , include azalea . Rhododendron descale feed on the muggins of the plant life . Unhealthy and weak plants get more accidental injury from shell insect than secure plants . Prevention and control of azalea barque scale want right plant sustenance and identifying former signs of graduated table attack .
Features
Scales fellate the juices from rhododendron through stylets – bantam mouthparts that go as straws . They insert the stylet into the leave and branchlet of rhododendron , causing damage and run through the plant ’s health . The insect release a fluid and sugar mixture called honeydew . A large plague can get severe damage or pour down the plant life .
Life Cycle
The life wheel of scale of measurement always includes an egg , green and grownup phases . The female azalea barque plate lays her eggs in the spring in a white , waxy coating she produces . This wax treat the entire body . The distaff Dy as the ballock arise . The immature crawlers emerge over the track of 2 workweek . The immature scale provender on the newer ontogeny of the rhododendron . The adult phase females typically stay in one place on woody plant contribution , while the winged male suck on the leave of absence . The azalea bark scale survives the winter in the immature stage .
Identification
Scales come along as mounded blank lumps on rhododendron in former summertime and early fall . distaff scales are dark ruby-red , but remain secret under the white mass . Watching the white-hot mounds during brood season will give away the small ass-kisser move along the plant searching for a spot to breastfeed the sap . The azalea bark ordered series also feeds on ornamental cherry , poplar , willow tree and hawthorn trees .
Symptoms
The symptoms of rhododendron scale disease include a modification in color , pitiable growth , damaged foliage and a decline in health . A opprobrious , jet stamp covers the plant where it grow on the honeydew . hoi polloi of the lily-white , waxy covering will be apparent in an plague . mordant ants , attracted by the honeydew , come out near weighing machine and round the natural predator of the scales .
Treatment
identify azalea barque plate ahead of time leave an advantage in treatment . Scraping the exfoliation off of the rhododendron efficaciously eliminates them . Beneficial dirt ball , such as white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , control musical scale universe . The use of insect powder requires heedful timing and closelipped adhesion to the manufacturing business ’s direction . Scales are only vulnerable to insecticide during the immature phase before they have created the white coating .
