Pineneedlescale is a common issue on pine trees. It primarily infects Scotch , Mugo , and Ponderosa , but it is also found in some firs and other species of pine.This is the optimum time for chemical pineneedlescalecontrol. Pineneedlescale and striped pinescale are particularly damaging. The most vulnerable stage of the scale insect’s life cycle is the crawler stage, an active, unarmored stage that occurs after egg hatch. If insecticide applications are made for control, proper timing is important in their success. Pineneedlescale (Hemiptera) on Austrian pine (Pinus nigra).Integrated Pest Management Strategies. 1. Prune and maintain vigor. Mild infestations caught early can be controlled by pruning out infested branches. If you're still having trouble keeping pineneedlescales away, the best option is to use a pro-grade, effective pest control solution like Pestie. Pestie is a do-it-yourself pest control solution that's specially designed to keep pineneedlescales and other pests away from your home. Pineneedlescale overwinters as eggs underneath the mated female scale cover.Insecticides recommended for controllingpineneedlescale include acephate (Orthene), bifenthrin (Talstar), cyfluthrin (Tempo), insecticidal soap, and summer (= horticultural) oil. Pineneedlescale is a native North American insect with many coniferous hosts. An outbreak occurred in South Lake Tahoe, California in 1968, which offered an opportunity to record a case of naturally occurring biological control in a town environment (Dahlsten & Hall 1999). LIFE CYCLE The pineneedlescale overwinters on the needles in several different stages under the armored shell of the female. Egg hatch occurs from late April to June, depending on the temperature. The pineneedlescale, Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch), is probably the most common armored scale found on conifers in the United States and Canada. The white, oystershell-shaped scales can completely cover needles, causing plant discoloration to needle and branch death. Pineneedlescale management include horticultural oils, insecticides applied during crawling stage. Tree spraying for insect and diseases. Common scale in OH include oystershell, lecanium, magnolia, cottony maple & pineneedlescale. Learn what they are, signs of damage and how to control them. The pineneedlescale feeds on the needles of most species of pines, spruce, cedar, Douglas fir, and fir. It causes the most damage to conifers of any insect pest in the Colorado front range. Pineneedlescales are relatively easy to find and to monitor for crawler activity.Wait until crawlers hatch then use horticultural oil or if necessary something stronger like an insect growth regulator. Check the brand new Nursery and Landscape Pest Control Guide . Pineneedlescale, also known as “white scale”, most often builds to high levels on Scotch pine trees. Other species of pine can also be infested. Pineneedlescale is occasionally found on spruce, Douglas-fir and eastern red cedar trees. Control. Monitor for pineneedlescale in April, May, and July. Clip and prune out light infestations and destroy the infested material. Apply dormant oil sprays to smother overwintering scales in late spring before new growth develops on infested conifers. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
