[Carrie99]

Hi - not sure if this has already been discussed but I've found what I'm pretty sure are scale insects on a fruit tree in my back yard - unfortunately I've only noticed now there are a lot of little white waxy clusters on many of the branches. I've read that certain sprays and things could work but not sure if it's too late for that really? Is there a way to just remove them? A friend suggested a toothbrush and sort of scrubbing them off - does anyone know if this would work or just make a horrible mess? I can just cut off the infected branches but I'll be left with a very small plant ;-).

Any advice appreciated :-)

Carrie

[Norfolkgrey]

When I was younger I used to paint them with methylated spirits but that doesn't seem to be mentioned nowadays. I have an issue with them on gooseberries so looked into neem oil (then quickly got confused about amounts and concentration etc) but am trying a similar idiot gardener type product. The verdict is still out. You can just brush them off with a toothbrush but it is a bit boring and yukky. Good luck what ever you chose 

[compostqueen]

They are a nightmare and can quickly spread to your woody shrubs, are hard to see, and hard to kill.  I don't think there exists an organic way if shifting them.  I did the Malathion on  the toothbrush thing but it failed completely

What did work, but i am not sure you would want it anywhere near food crops was Equity, by Dow.  I suppose rather than spraying you could just use it on the woody bits where the bugs and their babies are and apply it with a brush.  It could take ages but it's what I did on my bay tree.  You could always just cut your losses and burn it.  If you have it on other plants already though it's a dilemma

Equity is dangerous stuff so you have to use it with great care.  There is a hazard sheet that would need careful reading first and then you can decide if you want to use it.  I think it is authorised for food use.

[Carrie99]

Thanks for the replies!! I think Equity would scare me ;-), I've just pruned the worst bits off and give the rest a good scrub with a brush, I'm expecting I've just got rid of the noticeable bits tho. If I can keep them at bay until winter do they die off then or will this forever likely be a problem?

[Norfolkgrey]

I find it is a continous issue. Some years are worse than others 

[Yorkie]

Equity is a professional use only product.

[lfcevans]

I put my potted lemon tree out next to my raspberries last year and it picked up scale insects. I first noticed it on the raspberries when I cut them back at the end of the season.
I brought the lemon tree into the conservatory later on and didn't even consider anything was wrong with it as it was growing really well. As winter progressed I noticed the sticky residue on some of the leaves, by this time, it was covered in scale insects.
Being organically minded, I tried scraping the ones on the stems of with my nail and squashing the ones on the leaves, but had limited success. Come spring I had had enough and bought a plant based spray...although not organic, the bloke told me it was the next best thing. I think the stuff in it was called something like pirimol or pirithyn or something like that. I sprayed it twice in 3 days from top to bottom....worked a treat. It killed all the scale insects, but the tree is still looking sickly and no flowers on it yet. I hope it will survive

[Aunt Sally]

Would that have been a pyrethroid such as permethrin ?

[lfcevans]

Ha Ha....Yes I think is is

[RubyR3d]

When I was younger I used to paint them with methylated spirits but that doesn't seem to be mentioned nowadays. I have an issue with them on gooseberries so looked into neem oil (then quickly got confused about amounts and concentration etc) but am trying a similar idiot gardener type product. The verdict is still out. You can just brush them off with a toothbrush but it is a bit boring and yukky. Good luck what ever you chose 

.  My mum used to use meths on a cloth to help get rid of bott fly eggs you so times got on the horses back in the day. Nice . . .