Contact insecticides such as pyrethroids may provide less consistent control because they rely on contacting the insect whereas systemics make the plant toxic for the insect to feed on. Their eggs are white to pale yellow and are meshed in a white, cottony ovisac which may be up to 5mm wide and 12mm long. Immature forms (crawlers) are flattened and brown to yellowish green in color; however, the conspicuous, cottony egg sac of the mature female is two to three times the length of the scale … They closely adhere to the undersides of leaves and are easily overlooked. The Cottony Maple Scale. Both scales produce white, cottony ovisacs, and both have wide host ranges; however, as its common name implies, cottony maple leaf scale produces its ovisacs on the underside of its host's leaves. The cottony maple scale is common on maple, boxelder, hackberry, dogwood, beech, apple, oak, linden, honeylocust, and elm. There is one generation each year. Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites: Publication date: Aug. 1, 2010 By late spring the insect has developed into a mature female and begins laying as many as 1,000 eggs. Cottony maple scale is being found in DuPage, Livingston, and Grundy counties, on silver maple, sugar maple, honeylocust, green ash, and hawthorn. Adults were present in mid-May; I photographed one in my backyard in central Illinois at that time. The cottony maple leaf scale is so named because the females exude their eggs in an elongated, white, cottony structure called an ovisac which are stuck onto the underside of leaves. In late summer, the scales crawl to the twigs where they feed for the rest of the fall, winter and early spring. This insect is active throughout the United States and attacks many shade trees and shrubs, but it is primarily found on soft Maples and Lindens. Cottony camellia scales, Pulvinaria floccifera, are cream to tan, elongate oval, and relatively flat. These little buggers are so tiny and sneaky. Pulvinaria innumerabilis. A&T State University, in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Cottony Maple Leaf Scale is one of several cottony scales in the genus Pulvinaria. Cottony maple leaf scale damage. Consequently, they may not be effective where several l… It has also been reported from some western states. Do not use acephate on red or sugar maple. Before treating for crawlers, look for twice-stabbed lady beetles. They excrete honeydew in which can grow sooty mold. Although a heavy infestation may cause some thinning of the canopy, it rarely results in tree death. Young females have a dark stripe down the middle and mottling at the sides. At this time of year, beetles are usually in the larval stage. Crawlers hatch in late May to early June and feed on the underside of the host leaves, usually along the ribs of the leaf. After leaves open thorough coverage is very difficult. Scales tend to thrive on stressed plants. Adult lady beetles are black with small orange spots. The cottony maple scale is a pest on certain shade trees, particularly black locust and soft maple. Figure 4. At maturity, the females produce the white, cottony egg masses, called ovisacs, over a period of several weeks. The presence of this Insect le easily discovered during the summer months because of the white cottony masses about the size of peaa that are found on the lower sides of the limbs, especially those near the ground. Egg sacs may grow to as large as 1/2 inch in diameter and may contain up to 1000 eggs. If practical, improve plant sites to reduce stress and promote growth. Cottony maple leaf scale females are 3 to 4mm long and 2 to 4mm wide. Cottony maple scale overwinters as immature females (nymphs) on twigs and branches. Cottony scales suck sap from leaves (summer) and twigs (fall, winter, early spring) depriving the tree of valuable resources. One symptom of heavy infestations of cottony maple scale is honeydew. Adults are usually present in July when the crawlers are present. Severely infested trees look like they are covered with strings of popcorn. Cottony maple leaf scale females are 3 to 4mm long and 2 to 4mm wide. Cottony Maple Scale . There is one generation a year. Mature female scales are brown, roundish, and about one-quarter inch in diameter. And they will ruin your citrus, unless you get it under control. Egg sacks appear as white cottony masses emerging from beneath the brownish scale covers of females. They are also called cottony taxus scales as this scale is a fairly common pest of yew. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. Cottony maple scale is a food source for many predaceous insects and parasites. The cottony maple scale is a large, flat, brown scale insect found on the twigs and branches of various trees. This is the substance that makes our cars, sidewalks, decks, you name it, sticky in the summer. This is the optimum time for control. Each mass usually contains 1,000-1,500 eggs. Male scales mature in late August and early September, when they mate with immature females and die. Cottony ovisac on maple leaf with desiccated adult female present. Honeydew often drops onto leaves or plants below. These egg-laying scales do not feed and they soon die. Dormant-oil treatments control overwintering female nymphs on most hosts (except sugar and Japanese maple) after leaf drop in the fall and before budbreak in the spring. Spray when the temperature will stay above freezing for 24 hours after the spray. Its cottony egg sac and profuse honeydew production make cottony cushion scale easy to spot in the landscape. (76) Photo: John Davidson be controlled as crawlers and immatures. See the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual for additional insecticide choices. One of the insects we see on rare occasion in Iowa is the cottony maple scale. Read our Many systemic products are available that can be applied as foliar spray or drench. Cottony camellia scale and cottony maple scale are the other common species. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by NC State University or N.C. A&T State University nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. As the scale eggs hatch, the lady beetles leave, apparently to look for other prey. They are firmly attached to the twigs and branches of various trees and may be ¼ to ⅜ inch in diameter. Immature lady beetles are gray but soon become covered with a thick, cottony covering of wax that makes them look like mealybugs. Heavily infested trees have small flowers and leaves. Cottony Scale insects produce cottony egg masses from which young crawlers emerge. IDENTIFICATION AND LIFE CYCLE They spend the winter in an immature stage on twigs or branches and complete development in June when the egg sacs appear. The 1/4-inch white cottony ovisac, or egg sac, is deposited on bark. Cottony Cushion Scale had taken over, right under my nose! COTTONY MAPLE SCALE Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist A mature female cottony maple scale is 1/8" long, and has a brown, flat, oval body. In some cases, the scales are quite numerous. After mating, the females crawl to the leaves to lay eggs. Cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi, can infest a number of woody ornamentals and certain crops (Figure 1). Figure 2. Cottony Maple Scale. The white cottony egg masses, which resemble popcorn, are the most distinguishing feature of this scale. These eggs hatch from mid-June to August, and the young nymphs called scale crawlers emerge… commitment to diversity. 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