Woody plants and shrubs are identified with a white tiny sacs around the Sap initially found with a small population later covering the whole stem. These white sacs are nothing but the cushion covers created by a type of scale species called as Icerya purchasi. This insect is tiny brownish in color, which usually moves during the larval stage and settles down in the plant branch when it reaches adult phase.

Soon after that they start producing a white waxy like substance that engulfs the insect along with its eggs. The eggs hatch inside the cushion white envelop surrounding them and larvae come out of the cover through an opening. From their colony, they spread to other branches of the plant and settles there. In the meanwhile, the adult female scale sucks the plant nutrients from the sap for their growth and also for laying eggs further.

Scales are misinterpreted as less destructive insects but it is not so, when they start multiplying rapidly they are said the most serious pests in gardens having ornamental and woody plants. In North America, these scale species are observed to attack Orange Trees at huge amount and thus Gardeners cultivating the plant are highly affected. However, in certain countries Cushiony cotton Scales are not considered to be serious pests as they are controlled biologically by few predators existing in the province that feeds on Cotton cover. The predators are driven towards the scale colony is because of the reason that they produce honeydew as a part of their cycle after sucking entire plant sap. To name few predators, which help in control of Cotton Scale will be: Zelus biloba, Rodolia cardinalis and Australian wasps.

The Scale insect is not terminated by these predators; only the cotton cushion and honeydew are fed and eradicated. Since the adult is left as such they again start producing the waxy substance for the cushion. Therefore, it is not enough encouraging predators to control the insects; they need strong treatment to make them move off from the plant. Organic way of controlling insects has been effective so far, and it is also observed to be positive in this case. Neem oil, an extract of neem leaves can be sprayed over the Scale identified areas to drop them from the sap. Spraying neem oil over the plant bearing intense population of scales can make the scale to leave the colony provided the entire plants surrounding the infected one is also sprayed simultaneously to avoid their spread. By this method Cushiony cotton Scale can be managed to a greater extent.

Author: Adam Teaser - neem articles