Possible Disease on my tree
lp5set
Posts: 2
Long time reader, first time poster. I have a tree that seems to a have mixture of fire blight and some yet to be determined mass growing on the branches. There are several hundred small wart like modules on the branches. When touched, they burst and a small amount of puss oozes out. Bee's and Wasps seem to be attracted
to modules. Overall the tree looks to be in bad shape. Help!!!
0
Posts
One of the Scale insects. Can be very damaging as they are virus carrying sap suckers. They are not that easy to shift either. They are waterproof so you need to use a soap based insecticide sprayed on them. Might take a few applications too.
Never dawned on me that they could be insects. They dont seem to be moving at all. I can shake and even trim the branches and they dont move. Perhaps Coccidae??
Likely Brown scale:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=455
The adults never move once they attach themselves to the bark. I've found physical removal with a stiff brush and/or plastic scraper to be the best initial approach on small trees. A bucket of warm soapy water will help.
Last edited: 30 September 2017 19:09:55
And if that doesn't work well enough, you can always get some horticultural oil or Neem oil which will kill the aphids underneath by making their covers porous.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Last edited: 01 October 2017 16:18:52