Magnolia Soft Scale
Contact: Eric Day, Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory
August 1996
Magnolia Soft Scale
Homoptera: Coccidae, Neolecanium carnuparuum
Plants Attacked
Magnolia
Description of Damage
Heavy infestations cause stunting of
twigs and undersize leaves, and trees are visibly weakened.
Small trees may be killed. Large trees lose branches and tree
shape may become irregular.
Identification
Female ranges from dull grayish brown to dark
brown or smoky in color. Scale has a varnish-like appearance.
Some specimens appear covered with a powdery wax material.
Females are hemispherical and about 1/2" in diameter.
Life History
The overwintering scale begins feeding in late
spring or early summer and matures by early August. The females
which are parthenogenetic give birth to living young in late
August. The old adults then fall from the plant. The crawlers
soon settle and feed on plant juices. They develop to 2nd instar
before cold weather and overwinter in this stage.
Control
Dormant oils may be sprayed in March or April prior to
bud opening. Sprays for crawlers may also be applied in late
August and repeated 10-14 days later.
Remarks
Control of crawlers is usually easier and in most cases
gives more effective results.
