SCALE INSECTS: Characteristics and Controls

Ailments Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

Article Blog   Article Index
They suck the juice of tissues; some produce a toxin; spots where they extract juice become yellow; they tend to congregate at joints and under sheathing leaves but are also found on open areas and roots, the young are called crawlers and move freely; mature ones fix themselves and cover up with a waxy shield that can be hard or soft, white, grey, brown or black; spray with Malathion, or use a brush on the protected ones, then spray. A73-716
Share on Social Media:  
Log in to Add a Comment

More The Orchid Doctor Articles under the Heading Scale (Insects)

Scale (Insects) Comments
SCALE, BOISDUVAL: On Cattleyas Heavy infestation on neglected collection; spray one fluid ounce of Cygon 2E in three gals, water; a hand lens will show dead scale as yellowish-brown to brown and live scale as yellow. A70-148 0
SCALE, BROWN: Treatment Required Hand picking is not so effective; spray with Cygon 2E at 2 tpg., or with Malathion at 1.5 tpg. plus a few drops of a wetter-sticker. A73-991 0
SCALE: Controls A home-made spray can be made up with a half pint of water, a half pint of cooking oil, one tablespoon of liquid detergent, half a teaspoon of methyl hydrate (or rubbing alcohol), place them in a blender and whip up for two minutes to make an emulsion; to apply it, stir one part of the concoction into seven parts of water; spray liberally after cleaning the foliage; it tends to coat the surface. Ca81(4)-42; Ca84(1)-6; with the addition of nicotine (cigarette butts?) it might be effective against aphids, but would likely pose the risk of introducing TMV. Ca84(2)-6A most common pest found in greenhouses, two of them called Boisduval scale, and, Brown scale, are mostly found on orchids; neither is difficult to control, altho the dead ones remain on the plants and look as bad as the live ones, so they should be brushed off with an old toothbrush; all parts of the plant must be sprayed frequently with any control; use Metasystox R, Malathion 50%, or Summer Oil Emulsion out-doors. F87-180... 0
SCALE: Destroyed by Alcohol Use an alcohol from a spray bottle but remember that contact is necessary for killing them and that missed ones will multiply; a toothbrush and soapy water is an effective treatment for only a few plants. A84-819 0
SCALE (GENERAL): Characteristics and Controls There are two groups, the soft scales and the armored scales; different species require different controls; species common to California described; refer to AH6+; N328+; S192 0
SCALE (GENERAL): Control Besides Cygon 2E, Temik will kill scale except on flowers, but a permit to use is is necessary. A77-995On cymbidiums, is best achieved with Cygon 2E at 2 tpg.; or with Diazinon 50%EC at 1 tpg; Malathion, if reasonably fresh and if a wetting agent is added at 1/2 tpg. is recommended; use the 55% approximately. A80-4On phalaenopsis and cattleyas = use Cygon 2E at 2 tpg., or Malathion plus a wetting agent. A78-998Other than with Malathion which affects the user's nerves use Cygon 2E which is much more effective at 2 tpg. as a spray; but Cygon is from the same chemical group; use rubber gloves and stay away from the sprayed plants for 2 days. A73-338; OWDSpray with Cygon 2E at 2 tpg. A76-895The best way to control it is with Cygon 2E. A77-995; excellent control can be had by spraying with Diazinon plus 1/4 tpg. of a wetting agent or wetter-sticker. A80-110Use Shell No-Pest Strip; the agent in the strip is Vapona which is highly effective against scale; continued use may keep a greenhous... 0
SCALE (GENERAL): Control Experiments Foliar application of seven insecticides was tried on vandas for control of proteus scale, and on cattleyas for control of boisduval scale; dimethoate (Cygon) provided a complete control; phytotoxicity of Cygon on a wide scale was negative. A64-969+ 0
SCALE: Hard to Get Rid of Use Cygon 2E at 2tpg. applied when the temperature is below 70 dF; clean off the dried sheaths from the pseudobulbs first. A82-248 0
SCALE INSECTS: Characteristics In Florida, they are soft or armored scales; seven types described; Mealy bugs described; five different controls given; refer to DK2+ 0
SCALE INSECTS: Control In Hawaii, use Diazinon WP or EC (emulsifiable concentrate) as a spray; use Malathion, or Cygon 2E. P69(l)-ll 0
SCALE: On a Single Plant Control can be achieved by first scraping them off and then swabbing with methanol. A82-248 0
SCALE: On Vandaceous Plants Use Orthene Tree & Ornamental spray which is a soluble powder, at two tablespoons to three gallons of water; or, Malathion at one tpg,, and at several intervals. A85-817 0
SCALE: Types, Damage and Controls Possibly the most common orchid pest, whi ch because its size, numbe rs and habi ts are conspicuous; they attach themselves to the plant and suck the juices; some are believed to exude a toxic and injurios substance; the young sometimes travel far for their size before settling down;some build up an immunity to certain controls. OD83-146 0

New Topics

  1. James W McCully asked question How to read archived articles ? in category General Discussion
  2. David George asked question recently purchased orchid - what to expect in category General Discussion
  3. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
  4. Nicholas Filannino asked question Phalaenopsis William Kistler? in category General Discussion
  5. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
Ask a Question

Start a Topic

New Comments

  1. Louis Wilson commented on member plant E. alata f. alba by Louis Wilson
  2. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Phal. amabilis var. formosanum by Vickie Seibert
  3. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Rlc. Green Dragoon 'Mendenhall' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  4. Danielle Carbonneau commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  5. Barry J Silver commented on orchid Lyon. SunCoast Pink Passion
  6. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Phalaenopsis William Kistler?" by Nicholas Filannino
  7. Carol Holdren commented on orchid Colm. Eric Gabriel Heines
  8. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Cattleya little susie" by Juliann Eckhard
  9. Carol Holdren commented on member plant Bc. Morning Glory by Chris Siolo
  10. R .Benson commented on member plant Kir. New Hybrid (Fred Clarke) SVO9831 by R .Benson
  11. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Blooming Stenglottis Venus “jamboree “" by John Urey
  12. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Cobalt' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  13. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Sns. gemmata by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  14. Stefan Neher commented on topic "Orchid roots .com site?" by Mary Lane
  15. Kevin Barry commented on member plant Bul. Tammie Sue Pernas by Tony Pernas
  16. Linda Hartman commented on member plant Ctt. Final Blue by Linda Hartman
  17. Kevin Bergeson commented on member plant Paph. rothschildianum by Kevin Bergeson
  18. Carol Holdren commented on topic "recently purchased orchid shows unstoppable roots " by David George
  19. Michael Makio commented on orchid V. Beatrice Makio
  20. Carol Holdren commented on topic "shorter stem with less vigorous blooms" by katherine mott