Description

• 10–15 mm long.
• The complete life cycle of cottony cushion scale takes around 2 months in summer, with at least two generations occurring per year.
• The female cottony cushion scale produces up to 1000 eggs, which are carried in the fluted white cottony egg sac.

Damage

• The honeydew encourages the growth of sooty mould, which downgrades fruit quality and, in severe infestations, causes leaf drop, twig dieback and deterioration of tree health.

Monitoring

• Monitoring is needed most during February–March. Check five randomly selected green twigs per tree and examine each twig for the presence of adult scales with egg sac.
• If 5% of the green twigs checked are infested with one or more scales, then actions should be taken.

Natural enemies

• Ladybirds
• Lacewings

Control measures

• Appropriate actions include spraying petroleum spray oils (PSOs), which are best applied when crawlers are most active soon after hatching (around mid to late March).

More information

• A factsheet on cottony cushion scale (creatures.ifas.ufl.edu)
• Integrated pest management for cottony cushion scale (www.ipm.ucdavis.edu)