Juniper scale

Regis

Hi all!

I've just got a very small Juniper Chinensis in a container - it's not styled yet. After a quick look round, a found some small caterpillars, aphids, but the worst thing I saw, was those very tiny white ovals with brown centers, which I identified as a Juniper scale (Carulaspis juniperi). I think that the tree is infected very badly, having almost every branch surrounded by those tiny bugs and it's foliage is yellowing as well...

I did a search on internet and I found, that I could try a organophosphate pesticide. I bought one, sprayed the foliage and now I am going to wait.

Has anybody fought with this pest yet? Do you have any recommendations what I should do next?

Thanks a lot, have a nice day!

Tom

PS: there's a photo of Juniper scale. I think, that someone could find it helpful in the future.

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Ralph

Scale is a very common problem in my neck of the woods. Infestion of scale often indicates a greater problem. Scale attacks plants that are under stress. Is this juniper kept outdoors under full sun? Is the soil allowed to dry a little between waterings? remember that juniper prefer a slightly drier environment.
It is good to treat the scale, because it can kill the plant, but make sure you don't have a larger problem that is inviting te scale to finish this tree off.

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

Regis

Thank you very much, Ralph!

I've got this tree 2 days ago, from my friend, so I unfortunatelly don't know anything about any previous care.
Now, I am having it outdoors, under full sun and I didn't water it yet, because the soil still seems wet. I would like to solve the scale problem first, because the tree looks very stressed from it.