Pine Needle Scale

Pathogen Type
Insect Damage
Scientific Name
Phenacaspis pinifoliae
Frequency
2
Severity
4
Hosts
Pine needle scale attacks mugo, Scots, Austrian and red pines. Landscape trees, Christmas trees and trees along dusty roads are the most seriously affected trees.
Symptoms
As the number of insects increase, the tree often looks like it has been "flocked" in the summer. In addition, the amount of damage increases. Left alone, the insects will kill the tree.
Cycle
Pine needle scale overwinters as reddish eggs under the dead female body cover. Eggs hatch during candle growth. The crawlers move onto the new needles on the same tree or they may be carried or blown onto another tree. In the midwest, one life cycle occurs per year. In other parts of the country, two life cycles may occur in one growing season.
Management
Correct timing with insecticidal sprays can eliminate this insect. Because it overwinters as eggs, dormant oil spray does not provide effective control.
Credit

James E. Schuster, retired Extension Specialist-Horticulture & Plant Pathology and Dr. Philip L. Nixon, Extension Entomologist, Dept. of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois

PathogenID
74
Images
Pine needle scale
picID
30955
Pine needle scale on pine
picID
31094
picID
26033
Pine Needle Scale