As the independent authority in residential tree care and inspection in various areas around PA, our arborists at Rick’s PHC Certified Arborists answer numerous questions from clients about pests and diseases. One of the most common is how to treat gloomy scale in plants and trees. Our professionals find that most people are unsure whether “gloomy scale” refers to a fungal condition or an insect pest, but we are glad to enlighten everyone.
Gloomy scale insects infest thousands of trees in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Maryland. They are impossible to detect from afar, requiring close observation from a trained eye to recognize the early signs of infestation.
We will outline when you must call a tree care professional for help and lay out the life cycle of armored-scale insects and whether they can threaten your home garden in this article.
What Is Gloomy Scale?
The gloomy scale insect is an herbivorous specie of Melanaspis native to the eastern seaboard of America and has now found its way to the southeastern forests of Canada. It responds well to warm weather patterns with high humidity, which allows it to produce more eggs, grow healthier, and overcome environmental threats. It first appeared in arborist literature in the 1904 Arkansas Agriculture Bulletin, which described it as an infestation that destroys red maples.
Today, gloomy scale insects infest nearly all types of trees in the states between Florida, Maryland, and Texas. You can find it in native hollies, sugar maples, buckthorns, box elders, and tulip poplars. Beneath their brown and grey convex scale covers are legless, wingless, and soft bodies with piercing mouths that penetrate tree barks to consume organic products.
Trees with gloomy scale insect infestations typically suffer from branch dieback as they cannot generate enough parenchyma cells.
The Gloomy Scale Life Cycle
Gloomy scale insects prefer trees between one to four years old, and arborists can detect them on the branches and trunks. Stressed trees living with limited soil moisture or excessive heat are more vulnerable to these pests.
Generations of gloomy scale insects can completely cover external branches and bark tissue, making them appear coarse, grainy, and warty. Gloomy scale insects typically have a life cycle of one year, overwintering on barks as babies and staying attached to branches and trunks for years after they die.
How to Treat Gloomy Scale in Plants
Gloomy scale infestations are challenging to eliminate. Arborists might use power washers and manual scrubs to remove them from branches and barks. Chemical-based pesticide regimens are also viable options but might take a year of reapplication and monitoring to complete.
Strategic planting is essential for learning how to treat gloomy scale in plants. Lady beetles, lacewings, and midges are its natural enemies, and arborists might utilize them to preserve your landscape.
Contact the Experts Today
Contact a licensed tree care services provider and learn how to treat gloomy scale in plants. Call Rick’s PHC Certified Arborists at 610-840-2655 for a free consultation today.
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