How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

The San Jose scale has no visible egg stage; scales emerge from under the edge of their mother's covering as nymphs. There are three stages during the first instar: the crawler, which is mobile and locates a feeding site; the white cap, which feeds and becomes covered with a waxy secretion; and the black cap, which is a darker harder wax covering under which they may overwinter. The male scale will molt four times, and is elongate and black. The female molts twice, and is circular and gray. Males emerge as winged adults while the females remain wingless under the scale covering. There are three to four generations per season taking about 7 to 8 weeks per generation.

DAMAGE

Scales suck plant juices from twigs and limbs and inject a toxin, resulting in loss of tree vigor, growth, and productivity. They are found on wood with thin bark and fruit. A red halo is produced around a feeding site. Untreated infestations can kill a tree in 1 to 2 years.

MANAGEMENT

In cherries San Jose scale is rarely a problem in most growing areas; it can an occasional pest, however, in the southern San Joaquin Valley. A number of natural enemies help keep San Jose scale populations suppressed.

Biological Control
A number of natural enemies help keep San Jose scale populations suppressed. Species of the parasitic wasps Encarsia (formerly Prospaltella) and Aphytis lay an egg under the scale cover. The parasite larva consumes the scale body, and the new adult parasite cuts a circular hole in the scale cover to emerge. Both larvae and adults of the twicestabbed lady beetle, Chilocorus orbus, and the small nitidulid beetle, Cybocephalus californicus, feed on scale crawlers and settled nymphs. Broad-spectrum pesticides applied during the summer may destroy natural enemy populations and result in increased scale infestations.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Oil sprays and biological control by native scale parasites are acceptable in organically managed orchards.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions    Degree-day calculator    Degree-day table
Populations of San Jose scale can be controlled with oil in the dormant season. Additional pesticides are necessary only when populations are severe. Treat during delayed dormant period if scale population or sooty mold was observed the previous year.

Common name		Amount to Use**		R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)		(conc.)	(dilute)	(hours)	(days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.
DORMANT or DELAYED DORMANT
A.	NARROW RANGE OIL#	4–8 gal	1.5–2 gal	see label	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	COMMENTS: For low to moderate populations.
B.	NARROW RANGE OIL	4–8 gal	1.5–2 gal	see label	0
	MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.
	. . . PLUS (for severe populations). . .
	METHIDATHION*
	(Supracide) 25W	4–8 lb	1–2 lb	3 days	see comments
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
	COMMENTS: Apply before blossoms open or injury may result. Do not make more than one application per crop season. Pyrethroids applied at this time can be disruptive to beneficials.
	. . . or . . .
	DIAZINON* 50WP	4 lb	1.25 lb	4 days	21
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1B
	COMMENTS: Organophosphate insecticides used during delayed dormancy are very toxic to honey bees. Remove bees from orchard if cover crops or weeds are in bloom. Oil sprays may injure trees that are water stressed. It is advisable to postpone an oil application to water-stressed trees until winter rains have replenished soil water and the tree bark is noticeably moist. Resistance to diazinon has been a problem in some populations of San Jose scale. Levels in surface waters of this material that are high enough to be toxic to certain aquatic invertebrates have occurred following rains in January and February; avoid runoff into surface waters.
	. . . or . . .
	CHLORPYRIFOS*
	(Lorsban Advanced, 4EC)	2 qt	0.5 qt	4 days	see comments
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1B
	COMMENTS: Apply before blossoms open or injury may occur; delayed dormant timing most effective. Do not graze livestock in treated areas or feed them treated cover crops. Resistance to chlorpyrifos has been a problem in some populations of San Jose scale. Levels in surface waters of this material that are high enough to be toxic to certain aquatic invertebrates have occurred following rains in January and February; avoid runoff into surface waters.
	. . . or . . .
	PYRIPROXYFEN
	(Seize) 35WP	4–5 oz	1–1.25 oz	12	14
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 7C
	COMMENTS: An insect growth regulator that suppress egg hatch. Good coverage is essential for good control. Use allowed under a supplemental label.
**	For concentrate applications, use the amount given in 80–100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows; for dilute applications, amount is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300–400 gal water/acre, according to label.
+	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1	Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Degree-day calculator
• Degree-day table
• Photos of natural enemies of mites

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
J. L. Caprile, UC Cooperative Extension, Contra Costa County
W. W. Coates, UC Cooperative Extension, San Benito County
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
J. Colyn, Mid-Valley Ag. Services
M. Devencenzi, Devencenzi Ag. Pest Mgmt. and Research
P. McKenzie, Mid-Valley Ag. Services

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