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Fig tree scale insects

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
My pruned brown turkey is about to come into leaf. For the past two years there has been a bit of a scale insect problem which I have dealt with using alcohol and a brush. I couldn't reach it all last year, hence the pruning.
Is there anything I can do now before it leafs up to stop them in their tracks ?
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    A systemic bug killer should work.  If you don't use pesticides, then carry on as you are doing.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
     @B3. Paint on methylated spirit, works a treat and much cheaper,  alcohol is for drinking 😉
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I just use a stiff brush and as @lyn says - save the alcohol for drinking :)

    I wouldn't use a systemic insecticide on a plant that is going to produce something I'd eat.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited April 2023
    I was given some weird colour changing gin for Christmas. I'm not game to try it. Maybe the scale insects would like it.🤔
    Is there any point in doing the alcohol thing at this stage @Pete.8 @Lyn ?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    B3 said:
    Is there any point in doing the alcohol thing at this stage @Pete.8 @Lyn ?
    It's a bit early in the day for me 😁

    It's not something I've ever used for scale insects.
    It's easier just using a stiff brush to remove the scales (which are just covering the eggs). Once the brown scale is broken the eggs are doomed.
    Best to do it sooner rather than later when the eggs will hatch and the nymphs get on the move.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The trouble is, there are little bumps that are part of the branches, it's hard for me  to tell what's what until the scales pop @Pete.8
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I know what you mean.
    I get a few scale insects on my blueberries some years - they look just like dormant buds.
    Being much smaller than a fig I can look a bit more closely and determine which is which.
    I then just flick off the scale insects with a fingernail.
    One year I had them on a big acer - I used an old shoe brush and just brushed away at the branches. It did work.

    As alcohol is not something I'd waste using as an insecticide so I'm not sure what else to suggest.
    If your intention was to spray the entire tree with alcohol I'm not sure what effect that would have on the tree. I'm sure any fresh new leaves wouldn't like it.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    No. I was thinking of brushing the branches before they come into leaf.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    As It's not something I've done, I can't really advise as I have no previous experience.
    Hopefully someone who has done it can offer advice.

    If there are no leaves atm I'd think you should be ok.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Any photos of these scale insects? My fig tree in a pot is just coming into leaf, with what I assume are baby figs starting. More than last year, so I’m very keen to keep it healthy.
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