Magnolia Scale Treatment

The crawler life stage of the scale which is very vulnerable to insecticides is active in late august and september.

Magnolia scale treatment. Best magnolia scale treatment varies based on the severity of the infestation the time of the year and the overall health of the tree. Horticultural oil can be used in early spring probably late march early april in your area or late fall. Use a strong blast of water from your hose to knock the magnolia scale off. Sometimes you can find an infestation by tapping a leaf or twig over a sheet of white paper.

Treatment options for the adult magnolia scale identification. To control magnolia scale successfully you must spray the insecticide for example malathion or acephate at the right time in this insect s life cycle namely when it is in the crawler stage. Pruning the affected branches and twigs. The mature female magnolia scale is 1 2 inch in diameter smooth elliptical convex and dark brown to.

Chemical insecticides such as our bonide systemic insect control is quite effective at killing both immature and fully developed magnolia scale. Use a sprayer to hose down crawlers on trees on which you found infestations. Provide the magnolia with adequate water for several days before oil application to avoid. Another method which is less messy can be done now mid summer.

Depending on how bad the infestation is you could also consider pruning out the most heavily infested branches now. Do not expect adult scale to fall off after an insecticide treatment. At 1 25 of an inch the nymphs are very hard to see without a magnifying lens. Take care to aim the spry to hit the bark and avoid blowing off the leaves and flower buds.

These insects are more vulnerable to sprays at that particular time in their life cycle than at other periods and that time is generally late summer. The treatments target the crawlers not the adults. Use an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil or both. Magnolia scales have sharp mouthparts to pierce plant parts so the insects can suck out the phloem.

At this point in their life cycle they don t have legs and can t crawl back into the tree. Treatment for most diseases that effect the magnolia involve simple pruning fertilizing and watering. However we recommend only applying it in the event of a major infestation. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are good choices as they have a limited impact on beneficial insects like lady bugs that may attack magnolia scale.

But an insect known as the magnolia scale can wreck havoc with the heartiest of these waxy leafed trees and a fungus called verticillium wilt can attack the tree from its root system. Systemic insecticide kill insects such as aphids whiteflies miners scales on trees flowers and shrubs from inside the plant. Horticultural oils also known as narrow range supreme or superior oil are specially refined.