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Scale insect control
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The Pest | |
There are two broad categories of scale insects. The Diaspidae and the Lecanidae.
The Diaspidae are also known as hard or ‘armoured’ scales and comprise many species but each has a limited host range. There is no biological control currently available for control of these scales. The Lecanidae, or soft scale, have two common species. Coccus hesperidum (brown soft scale) is oval in shape, light brown, green or grey in colour with black-brown patches and to 4mm long.
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Biological Controls | |
» METASURE (h) Metaphycus helvolus in units of 25
» CHILOSURE (n) Chilocorus nigritus in units of 25
» SCALESURE (mix) Metaphycus helvolus, Encarsia citrina, Coccophagus lycimnia and Encyrtus infelix in units of 25
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| | Metasure (h)
Metaphycus helvolus is a parasitic wasp 1.5 mm in length. The yellow females attack young soft scales once they have settled to start feeding. They prefer the most common scale species in glasshouses, which are Saisettia coffeae and Coccus hesperidum. Females can lay 5-10 eggs per day but kill many more by host feeding. Males are black. A few weeks after release a light stripe is visible in the centre of the scale. Parasitised scales appear dark and flat. A circular hole is cut in the scale at the end of incubation from which the adult emerges. The life cycle takes 11 and 30 days at 30°C and 20°C. The females are long lived but require warm temperatures and sunshine for activity. Once introduced, the parasitoid can over-winter and repeat releases may not be needed. Directions for Use
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| | Chilosure (n)
Chilocorus nigritus are shiny black ladybirds. Larvae and adults feed on a wide range of hard and soft scale insects. The adult is about 4mm long. The larvae are 1 cm long, mostly brown with filaments. Eggs are laid singly, close to scale insect colonies. There is no development below 16.5°C and the adults are more active at higher temperatures. Females lay 3 eggs per day at 20°C and 10 per day at 30°C. The life-span can extend up to 9 months and egg laying continues provided individuals are kept with a male and are well fed. Directions for Use
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| | Scalesure (mix)
Scalesure mix contains a selection of parasite species. Metaphycus helvolus controls Saisettia coffeae and Coccus hesperidum. Encarsia citrina is a very small (1mm) black parasitoid. Our strain is from the UK and attacks Saisettia coffaea. The parasitised scales turn black. Half grown scales are targeted. The female lays about 6 eggs per day and the life cycle takes about 1 month at 25°C. Adults live for a few days when feeding on honeydew. Coccophagus lycimnia (2mm long) is a common British parasitoid that attacks soft scales. It has a black body with a yellow spot in the middle. It attacks a variety of young soft scale species. After about 1 week the scales turn dark and the parasitoids emerge through a hole. The life cycle takes 3-4 weeks at 25°C. Encyrtus infelix is a British species that attacks soft scales such as Saisettia spp. Adult females are black. They lay eggs in light coloured scales which turn blackish once parasitised. A generation takes about 3-4 weeks at 25°C. The parasitoid thrives in warmer weather. Females lay about 30 eggs in their lifetime. Chilocorus are effective against both hard and soft scales, whereas the parasitoids are more effective against lower infestations of soft scales. The Scalesure (mix) is useful where you have a mix of soft scale species. Directions for Use
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