How to deal with scale insects on thuja and fir trees

Methods of combating scabies on conifers include the use of insecticides, folk remedies. Scrapes are scraped from the cortex, and toxic substances are quickly disposed of from the larvae. But all this must be done in a timely manner. Peak breeding occurs in July-August.

Scaffold and false scaffold

Insect scale insects garden cropsdecorative and coniferous. Small bugs on the needles of conifers look like small tubercles, plaques. The body size of the scabbard is about 2.5 mm; the male is even smaller. Scutellum rounded, gray-brown, reddish. The shape is oblong. A photo of the scale shield on the needles can be seen below.

False shield differs from usual shell mounting. If you lightly pry off the shield with your fingernail, the insect remains on the needles. In a scale insect, the carapace fuses tightly with the body. There is no significant difference, but experts have noticed that it is the false shield that causes significant harm to crops.

Larvae are born in large numbers, within 2 hours they creep along the plant. Gluttonous larvae feed sap of trees. Insects parasitize all year round. One female lays up to 70 eggs, hibernate under the shield.

Important!

The presence of scutes can be recognized by the presence of tubercles, in the form of scales. Adult individuals are absolutely motionless. The main role of the female is to lay more eggs. They hibernate under the shield, easily tolerate frost of 30 degrees Celsius. With the onset of spring, they get out, fussyly looking for food.

Needles lose their luster, turn yellow, blacken, fall off. As a result of severe infection, coniferous crops can die. This is especially true for young trees.

Methods for killing parasites

How to deal with scale insects on thuja, spruce, pine, other coniferous trees depends on the degree of infection, personal preferences. For the destruction of scale insects are used professional drugs, folk remedies.

Do not try to get rid of the false scutellum on conifers by physical means. When trying to remove the bug, the carapace remains in the hands, and the insects themselves hide in needles, it is difficult to catch it there. In this way, it is only possible to facilitate the process of exiting the scutes from the larvae; parasites will also remain grateful for such assistance.

On a note!

If the bark of coniferous trees is severely infected, it is allowed to remove the top layer with a special spatula or knife. After the procedure, spray the tree with soap and water.

Fighting the insecticide shield on fir trees is also not so simple. Durable carapace protects insects from the effects of poisoning; it is problematic to destroy pests by contact. But do not despair, with the right approach, choosing an effective tool, you can save a tree.

First aid equipment

Seedlings infected with scabies, young trees are sprayed with soapy water. Dissolve tar, laundry soap. A bucket of water will need a bar of soap. Pass through the needles with a brush. Repeat the procedure every 7 days.

It is also recommended to remove the top layer of soil around the tree, or treat it with hot water with the addition of wood ash.Aktar can be brought into the ground once a month for control and prevention, or watered with Confidor.

• Laundry soap is diluted in water, crushed garlic is added. Let it brew for about an hour. Spray trees - bark, needles. The next day, wash off with a stream of water. The procedure is recommended to be repeated every 3 days until the crops are completely cured.
• Grind 4 medium onions, pour 1 liter of water. Insist 2 hours. Drain, spray the trees.
• Add red hot pepper to the water, leave for 24 hours. Dilute the green soap, carry out the spraying procedure.
• Add wood ash to boiled water, stir, let it brew. The solution is sprayed with needles, tree bark, water the soil.
• Celandine is poured with cold liquid, allowed to infuse for a day. Filter, spray the trees.

Fighting folk remedies involves several treatments in the first two weeks.

Professional drugs

Spruce scale insects in the warm season. In early spring, it is necessary to take care of the reliable protection of trees.

• Actellik. Based on a broad spectrum insecticide. One treatment is enough to insects were not all summer. Not addictive. Among the shortcomings is an unpleasant smell.
• Actara. Universal remedy for harmful insects. But it is recommended to apply in early spring, before the flowering of trees. Deadly for bees.
• Bitoxibacillin. Biological product. It acts more slowly, but can be used at any time during the growing season. It is recommended to process every 2 weeks.

False shield parasitic on many cultures: currant, grapes, lemonplum. Damages the sheet, dark spots form at the site of the lesion. If there is a constant infection of spruce trees, it is necessary to examine the trees growing nearby. It will be necessary to process not only conifers.