A shiny, chestnut-brown, oval shell about 1/8 inch long is attached to twigs or branches so it doesn't move. Tiny nymphs or crawlers hatch and emerge from under their protective covering around mid-June. They're flat, oval and pale green to brown. Crawlers move for a short period before they begin sucking plant juices from tender growth. Later,they move to older wood, turn brown and settle in for the winter.
A wide variety of fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and trees can be affected.
Plants decline often before the crawlers or adults are even noticed. They leave behind honeydew, a sticky, undigested sap similar to that of aphids. This sap grows a dark, sooty mold on leaves and stems.
Controls include scrubbing the scale off with a brush and soapy water or rubbing alcohol. Remove and destroy heavily infested branches. Horticultural oils sprayed when the plant is dormant suffocate adult scale and eggs.
Biological controls include parasitic wasps and soldier beetles.
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