Life Cycle: Females and eggs overwinter under the protection of the waxy scale. Females may lay up to 40 eggs beneath the cover. Crawlers emerge from the eggs in the spring to find a new feeding location. When feeding begins, the crawlers create a new covering to protect them by secreting a waxy substance. Within a couple of months, the crawlers reach maturity and mating begins. Males die after mating. Females lay eggs mid-summer giving rise to the second generation which reach maturity in early fall.
Damage: Scale feeds by piercing the pine needles and sucking out sap. Needles may become
mottled in color and eventually turn brown. A severe infestation may cause the branches to dieback or may kill the tree entirely.
Control: Maintain healthy trees by monitoring for scale crawlers late spring to early summer (first generation) and again mid- to late-July (second generation). Wrap double-sided tape around the needles or twigs of the pine tree to monitor for the crawlers. Electric tape smeared with petroleum jelly can trap the crawlers. Use colored tape so the white bodies are easier to see.
When crawlers are present it is time to spray. Some effective insecticides include: acephate (Acephate, Orthene), cyfluthrin (Tempo, BioAdvanced Vegetable & Garden Insect Spray), and permethrin (38 Plus Turf, Termite & Ornamental Insect Spray; Eight Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Concentrate or Garden and Farm Insect Spray). Insecticides must be applied soon after crawlers emerge to be effective. Once they are protected beneath their waxy cover insecticides will not be able to reach them. (Cynthia Domenghini)