Panhandle Growers Experience Scales

Many citrus growers in Florida’s panhandle were experiencing high populations of scales early this year, particularly Florida red scale and false Florida red scale, Jefferson County Extension agent Danielle Sprague announced in a recent issue of the Cold Hardy Citrus Connection newsletter. The newsletter is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension publication.

Sprague pointed out that most citrus grown in the region is marketed as fresh fruit, and the presence of scale on fruit reduces its marketability.  

In the newsletter, Sprague and UF/IFAS entomologist Xavier Martini provided information about scouting and control of scales. That information is summarized below.

In the past, Florida red scale was very well controlled by natural enemies, including ladybeetle predators and other parasitoids. One possible contributor to the increase in scales this year is repeated applications of broad-spectrum insecticides during periods when natural enemies are active. Because of that, the first action might be to eliminate any unnecessary insecticide applications.

Control of armored scale is particularly difficult as the pest spends most of its life protected by the scale cover. It is only the earliest nymph instar that is mobile and unprotected. Since this stage is mobile, the moving nymphs are referred to as crawlers. This stage is the most susceptible to insecticides. Therefore, it is important to monitor for crawlers in the early spring to target insecticide applications to this life cycle stage.

When scales are in the crawler stage, most insecticide labeled for …..

Learn more about Panhandle Growers Experience Scales on the Citrus Industry website.