COTTONY MAPLE LEAF SCALE              

Cottony maple leaf scale females are 3 to 4 mm long and 2 to 4 mm wide. They are slightly convex and are brown with a yellow-brown ridge down the back. The body is covered with flakes of clear wax. Their eggs are white to pale yellow and are meshed in a white, cottony ovisac which may be up to 5 mm wide and 12 mm long. Newly hatched nymphs are pale yellow or green and translucent. They closely adhere to the undersides of leaves and are easily overlooked.

Cottony scales suck sap from leaves (summer) and twigs (fall, winter, early spring). They excrete honeydew in which grow sooty molds. Consequently infested trees are stunted and appear scorched and black. Heavily infested trees have small flowers and leaves. Twig dieback may occur.

In April and May, cotton maple leaf scales crawl to the leaves and lay up to 2500 eggs in cottony ovisacs on the undersides. These egg-laying scales do not feed and they soon die. Crawlers hatch in late June to early July and feed on the underside of the host leaves, usually along the ribs of the leaf. In late summer, the scales crawl to the twigs where they feed for the rest of the fall, winter and early spring. In April, male scales develop into tiny, winged, gnat like insects which mate with females and then die. After mating, the females crawl to the leaves to lay eggs. There is one generation each year.                                                                                                       

Control

May-June: Red maple - lady beetles or systemic granulars ( leaves can not be sprayed)

All other  plants -Use lady beetles or horticurtural oil ,systemic granules to kill  eggs.

Use Bio Pak Plus monthly to stimulate necessary leaf growth.

July-August: Red maple , lady beetles or systemic granulars ( leaves can not be sprayed)

All other  plants -Use lady beetles , Insecticidal soap ,systemic granules  to kill  hatched eggs.

 Use Bio Pak Plus monthly to stimulate necessary leaf growth.

August-October: Red maple , lady beetles or systemic granulars ( leaves can not be sprayed)

All other  plants -Use lady beetles or Insecticidal soap ,systemic granules  to kill  hatched eggs

 Use Bio Pak Plus monthly to stimulate necessary leaf growth.

Preventative Maintenance

May-October: Red maple , lady beetles or systemic granulars ( leaves can not be sprayed)

All other  plants -Use lady beetles or Insecticidal soap ,systemic granules  to kill  hatched eggs.

Use Bio Pak Plus every 2 months to stimulate necessary leaf growth.

Fertilizing

Apply Plant Booster Plus in early spring and late fall to keep all plant healthy.