Scale Insects: Identifying Characteristics
Identifying the injury:
Scales and damage from these insects can be found on any part of the tree. Damage can result in a variety of symptoms including: branch and crown dieback, abnormal growth of leaves and twigs, leaves turning yellow or red, leaf drop, and leaf dieback. Two possible indicators of scales are the presence of sooty mold and lots of ants around a tree.
Identifying the insect:
Depending on the species, scales vary in size, color, and shape. All are small insects, usually 1/50 to 1/10 of inch long. Some are shaped like a small turtle or oyster shell; others are circular, oblong, thread-like, or pear-shaped. Some scales are white in color and stand out in contrast to a tree's bark; other scales blend in perfectly with the bark.
Susceptible trees:
Both hardwoods and conifers can be infested with scales. Certain species will prefer particular trees.