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Identification of an insect on my Acer

brian201049brian201049 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
On one of my acer trees, the leaves have started to die and shrivel. There are lots of small oval insect all over it. I was wondering if they were scale insects and would they be causing the problem. They don’t look like the photos I have seen of scale insects and was hoping someone could identify them. I enclose two photos. If they have caused the problem what is the solution?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, scale insects, possibly Brown Scale which feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs.  They suck the sap and a heavy infestation can kill a small tree.  The white fluff you see is the remains of a waxy coating in which the eggs were laid.  Those have now hatched into tiny nymphs which will move over the tree and find a new permanent home.  You can just rub them off (perhaps wear gloves as it gets messy.)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes, they are scale insects, but unlikely to be the cause of the problem you describe unless there's a vast amount.
    I have had them on one of my acers in the past.
    I used a stiff brush to remove them and it seemed to do the trick. If there's not so many, flick or rub them off.
    I think you need to do that asap as it's around now (I think) that the larvae under the limpet like shell emerge and start to find homes for themselves, then you've got 10x the amount!

    If you could post a pic of the whole tree and a close up of the leaf and branch problem that would help.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Nasty things.
  • brian201049brian201049 Posts: 5
    Thanks for your comments, we have dug it out of the garden an put it in a pot to see if it recovers. Unfortunately we have cut off all the dead and dying branches so I can’t show you what it was like. This is the third year it has been in the garden and has always been healthy (Although not large). It is an acer bi hoo with yellow stems. I enclose photos of it in its pot if this is of any help.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Mmm, doesn't look good and I can see areas of damaged or diseased tissue (circled in red) which you still need to remove.  It could be the scale insects have killed the bark in some areas, or it could be verticillium wilt to which acers are prone (more likely after viewing the photos.)  I would cut it back further, at least to the green lines I've added to your photo, below.

    Whether it will survive is difficult to say, but put it somewhere where it is protected from wind, has some shade and keep your fingers crossed.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • brian201049brian201049 Posts: 5
    Thanks Bob, will do what you say and see what happens
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The bruising on some of the branches does look like it may be verticillium wilt. See if there's the tell-tale brown ring inside the branch when you cut it.
    If it is VW, then you could easily inadvertently let it loose on the rest of your garden - as mentioned in the article that Bob refers to above.
    Clean the secateurs after pruning it or you could spread it onto the next plant you prune with them.
    I think if it were mine I'd dispose of the plant and compost into the waste bin as I'd not want to risk other plants in the garden and thoroughly wash the pot before re-use.
    Good luck whatever you decide

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • brian201049brian201049 Posts: 5
    Thank you for that advice, will do as you say.
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