Fruit Bites for May 6 ... San Jose Scale

BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us as always is Valent’s Allison Walston. And, lets see, this week Allison, we’re talking about San Jose scale!

 

AW: One of my favorite pests. San Jose scale was introduced to California in the 1870s, and quickly spread to fruit growing areas. This tiny insect sucks plant juices from branches and fruit & usually leaves a reddish spot as evidence, and scales can kill full grown trees.

 

BL: So, where is San Jose scale the worst?

 

AW: Usually in large older trees where spray coverage is poor, and the scales can hide in bark crevices. If left uncontrolled, a single female can give live-birth to thousands of scale crawlers and we have two generations per year.

 

BL: What can be done, you know, some control options?

 

AW: For products like Esteem or Senstar, target the younger stages from delayed dormant to petal fall, because these products inhibit insect development. Adding oil helps and get really good spray coverage too.

 

BL: Good stuff, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.