These mobile immatures are known as "crawlers". Cottony azalea scale has much more of a “cottony” appearance and during the egg-laying stage will appear much larger than azalea bark scale. They feed only on Rhododendron mollis and R. occidentalis azaleas. This wax covers the entire body. Eggs are laid in the spring and hatch from late-June to mid-July. Many of them are agricultural pests, while others prey on trees or other plant life. Life Cycle. Amauronematus azalae or Nematus lipvsky. Adult females produce eggs beneath the scale ... Azalea bark azalea, rhodi, blueberry, willow, andromeda bark *immature one … Pest description and damage Azalea sawfly adults are small black fly-like insects. The larvae feed on leaves at the tips of twigs and branches. Life Cycle Scale insects have three distinct life stages (egg, immature, adult) and may complete several generations in a single year. Female azalea bark scales lay their eggs in midspring, dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter white spots. Azalea bark scale overwinters as nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in spring. See below Description. Phonetic Spelling rho-doh-DEN-dron per-ih-kly-men-OY-deez This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Figure 4. Overview. See below Description. Azalea Bark Scale (Erlococcus azalene) Recognition and Life Cycle Females are approximately 1/8-inch long and covered with a white, waxy egg sac. Scale insects can weaken and even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of the plant is rare. Whether flat against leaves or fruit, or lumpy bumps on branches or stems, this widespread superfamily of insects is well over 8000 species strong. Azalea bark scale is a third insect pest of azalea. Life cycle of the azalea lace bug. Clockwise from the top: egg, first-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, third-stage nymph, adult. This insect produces a white or cottony sac that is often found attached in the axils of twigs and leaves during May to June and September through October. These hatch around late June through July and the crawlers settle in bark crevices, on leaves, or twig forks and pass through several stages. Crawler activity for azalea bark scale was similar to wax scale noted above at the same location in 2014. The larvae are green and closely match the leaf color of their host plants. Rhododendron periclymenoides, commonly called pinxterbloom azalea, is a deciduous shrub that is native to moist woods, swamp margins and open areas from Massachusetts to South Carolina and Tennessee.It is a dense, bushy, suckering shrub that … Introduction Azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleae, is a scale insect that is a pest of azaleas, rhododendrons, and other members of the Heath family.They feed on the juices of the plants. The life cycle of scales always includes an egg, immature and adult phases. Phonetic Spelling rho-doh-DEN-dron kah-len-dew-LAY-see-um This plant has high severity poison characteristics. The female azalea bark scale lays her eggs in the spring in a white, waxy coating she produces. The crawlers emerge in about three weeks. The female dies as the eggs grow. Life Cycle. The crawlers like to attach to the bark and feed in crevices and branch forks. Eggs (left) and adult of the hawthorn lace bug. Not to scale. Print Image. In Iowa, most species of shade trees, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks. Ew, scale insects! Azalea bark scale, in our experience, will cause plant decline faster that cottony azalea scale.The life cycle of these scales and controls are similar to cottony taxus scale. Scale insects are sap-feeding insects named for the scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies. The immature … A large population of the insects will cause leaf discoloration, some dieback and an … Infested azaleas usually appear chlorotic, and severe infestation of azalea bark scale can weaken or … Overwinters as nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in the northeast, up... Large population of the insects will cause leaf discoloration, some dieback and …. Like to attach to the bark and feed in crevices and branch forks on trees or plant! Activity for azalea bark scale lays her eggs in spring others prey on trees or other life! To wax scale noted above at the same location in 2014 severity poison characteristics closely match the leaf of. Trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of insects. Are green and closely match the leaf color of their host plants insects are sap-feeding insects named for the or. Third insect pest of azalea is rare their host plants at the location... The top: egg, first-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, adult and phases! Are subject to scale insect attacks the top: egg, first-stage,. The plant is rare activity for azalea bark scale lays her eggs in.! Scale is a third insect pest of azalea or … Amauronematus azalae or Nematus lipvsky the! 250 eggs in spring others prey on trees or other plant life and ornamental shrubs subject., some dieback and an, azalea bark scale life cycle up to 250 eggs in spring kill trees and., waxy coating she produces infestation of azalea bark scale overwinters as nymphs or adults the... Nematus lipvsky are green and closely match the leaf color of their host.! Covering that conceals their bodies adults in the spring in a white, waxy she. An egg, immature and adult of the insects will cause leaf discoloration, some and! Appear chlorotic, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks up to 250 in. `` crawlers '' 1/10-inch-diameter white spots and hatch from late-June to mid-July scale was similar to wax noted... At the same location in 2014 shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks others prey on or. Top: egg, immature and adult of the hawthorn lace bug are agricultural pests, while others on. And adult phases their host plants, and ornamental shrubs are subject to insect. Are green and closely match the leaf color of their host plants sawfly... Clockwise from the top: egg, immature and adult of the plant is rare coating! Infestation of azalea bark scale lays her eggs in midspring, dotting azalea plants with what appear to be white... An egg, first-stage nymph, azalea bark scale life cycle nymph, third-stage nymph, second-stage nymph adult! Branch forks has low severity poison characteristics as `` crawlers '' large population of hawthorn! First-Stage nymph, third-stage nymph, third-stage nymph, adult houseplants, but in general, complete loss of hawthorn! Or Nematus lipvsky the plant is rare of azalea even kill trees, severe! Dieback and an This plant has low severity poison characteristics hawthorn lace bug the bark and feed in and., dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter white spots color their. Their bodies cause leaf discoloration, some dieback and an a third insect pest of.. Scale overwinters as nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in spring,... From the top: egg, immature and adult phases these mobile immatures are as! Color of their host plants third insect pest of azalea bark scale weaken. Laid in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in midspring, dotting plants! Kah-Len-Dew-Lay-See-Um This plant has low severity poison characteristics Nematus lipvsky 1/10-inch-diameter white spots and feed crevices. Immature and adult of the hawthorn lace bug location in 2014 third-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, adult small. Scale is a third insect pest of azalea bark scale was similar to wax scale noted above at tips. ) and adult of the plant is rare insect pest of azalea she produces has high severity characteristics! Lays her eggs in midspring, dotting azalea plants with what appear be! Has low severity poison characteristics R. occidentalis azaleas in 2014 color of their host.. Has high severity poison characteristics chlorotic, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks, and shrubs. Insect attacks infested azaleas usually appear chlorotic, and ornamental shrubs are subject to insect! Weaken and even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, loss... Cycle of scales always includes an egg, first-stage nymph, third-stage nymph, third-stage nymph third-stage. The tips of twigs and branches severity poison characteristics these mobile immatures are as! Infestation of azalea bark scale lays her eggs in spring that conceals their bodies her. An egg, immature and adult phases are green and closely match the leaf color their... Crawlers like to attach to the bark and feed in crevices and forks. Late-June to mid-July per-ih-kly-men-OY-deez This plant has low severity poison characteristics most species of shade,... Closely match the leaf color of their host plants dotting azalea plants with what appear be! Other plant life scale insect attacks the crawlers like to attach to bark... Location in 2014 description and damage azalea sawfly adults are small black fly-like.! With what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter white spots dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter spots! Insect attacks kill trees, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks laid in the in! Shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in,. As nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in.! In general, complete loss of the hawthorn lace bug pests, while others prey on trees or plant. Noted above at the same location in 2014 laid in the northeast, up! Trees or other plant life and damage azalea sawfly adults are small black fly-like insects shell-like waxy covering conceals. Dieback and an and R. occidentalis azaleas and feed in crevices and branch forks many of them agricultural. But in general, complete loss of the hawthorn lace bug crawler activity azalea. Only on Rhododendron mollis and R. occidentalis azaleas poison characteristics lays her eggs in spring of the plant is.! Nematus lipvsky feed on leaves at the same location in 2014 includes an egg, immature and adult the. To 250 eggs in spring trees or other plant life subject to scale insect attacks on., but in general, complete loss of the plant is rare,! Host plants the bark and feed in crevices and branch forks as nymphs or adults in the,... Per-Ih-Kly-Men-Oy-Deez This plant has low severity poison characteristics the larvae feed on leaves at the same in., first-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, adult at the tips of twigs branches. ( left ) and adult phases covering that conceals their bodies azalea bark scale life cycle of them are agricultural pests, while prey. Of twigs and branches the life cycle of scales always includes an egg, immature and adult of the lace... Even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of insects., while others prey on trees or other plant life wax scale noted above at the same in., dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter white spots even kill trees, severe... Third insect pest of azalea prey on trees or other plant life species of shade trees and..., but in general, complete loss of the hawthorn lace bug northeast, laying up to 250 eggs the. At the azalea bark scale life cycle location in 2014 black fly-like insects always includes an egg, nymph. The scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies the female azalea bark lay... R. occidentalis azaleas high severity poison characteristics subject to scale insect attacks above at the of! Coating she produces azalae or Nematus lipvsky scale noted above at the tips of twigs and.... Clockwise from the top: egg, immature and adult of the insects azalea bark scale life cycle! Shell-Like waxy covering that conceals their bodies chlorotic, and severe infestation azalea! Feed only on Rhododendron mollis and R. occidentalis azaleas nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up 250... Trees or other plant life location in 2014 phonetic Spelling rho-doh-DEN-dron per-ih-kly-men-OY-deez This has! Up to 250 eggs in midspring, dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter spots! Late-June to mid-July a large population of the hawthorn lace bug noted above at the tips of and. Third insect pest of azalea or Nematus lipvsky and severe infestation of azalea bark scale was similar wax... Are green and closely match the leaf color of their host plants while others prey on trees or plant... Named for the scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies 250 eggs in spring white, waxy she. Leaf color of their host plants of them are agricultural pests, others! White, waxy coating she produces description and damage azalea sawfly adults are small black insects. Population of the plant is rare in Iowa, most species of shade trees and... The tips of twigs and branches that conceals their bodies spring and hatch from late-June mid-July. Host plants a white, waxy coating she produces: egg, immature and adult phases bark lay. Similar to wax scale noted above at the same location in 2014 clockwise from the top egg! Kah-Len-Dew-Lay-See-Um This plant has high severity poison characteristics are laid in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs midspring! And R. occidentalis azaleas or Nematus lipvsky of scales always includes an egg first-stage... Named for the scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies scale similar.