Bondi Junction NSW, Australia
Fact Sheets
3 years ago
   3
Citrus snow scale (105)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. Mostly, citrus, but the Pacific banana is a host. An important pest.
  • The scale has tube-like mouthparts, sucking sap from stems. Heavy infestations cause leaf fall and dieback.
  • Eggs hatch and “crawlers” walk or spread by wind, settle, feed and produce the protective armour, oyster-shaped in females, white and straight in males. Males become fly-like, without mouthparts, mate and die.
  • Natural enemies: ladybird beetles and parasitoid wasps.
  • Cultural control: scale-free nursery stock; Gliricidia windbreaks to protect from spread of "crawlers"; adequate nutrition.
  • Chemical control: use lime sulphur or wettable sulphur, leaving 30 days if also spraying oils (READ INSTRUCTIONS); alternatively, spot-spray infestations with horticultural oil, white oil, or soap solution (see Fact Sheet no. 56); avoid malathion and synthetic pyrethroids - they will kill natural enemies.

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