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Pest on nectarine
RichPettz
Posts: 9
Hello all. Can anyone help me identify this pest which has suddenly covered the branches of my nectarine espalier tree, please? I've looked through my pest books but can't seem to find anything like it.
Thanks,
Rich
0
Posts
I think it's scale insects. My peach had some, nearly always under the branch. I rubbed them off. One thing is good -they don't move fast.
Great, thank you! I think you're right. I've just never seen this variety before, I've only seen little yellow ones on leaves. Apparently there are many types, though, some can get up to 1cm in size - yuck! Anyone who has the same thing, take a look here.... https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=224
I've got too many to rub off, they are literally covering every branch. So if anyone has had success controlling them, advice would be appreciated! Otherwise, I'll just have to spray the tree, as advised on the linked rhs page.
Rub off as many as you can RP as spraying isn't all that effective on the adults. You can't use systemic insecticides (well, at least I wouldn't) on a fruit tree and those are the only sort which will be effective against adults. Not only will the neonicatinoids get into the fruit but it will also affect bees and other pollinating insects which visit the flowers. I had them all over my peach tree a few years ago and tackled it one branch at a time, scraping them off by hand. It was hard work and took several days but did the trick. If you really have to spray, I'd wait until the flowers have finished and would discard this year's fruit.
Last edited: 14 April 2017 18:53:42
Thanks Bob, I'll do that, then - I'd rather not spray, if avoidable, especially if it's as ineffective as you say. Sounds like a busy few days ahead!
A friend of mine had these on his fruit trees and used lacewing larvae (from May) as biological warfare - worked a treat.
I use them for whitefly and aphid infestations - amazing creatures, eat everything in their path!
Sounds like a good idea....how do you get hold of the lavae? By chance I have hundreds of lacewings in my son's treehouse.....wonder if I could encourage them into the greenhouse! (that's where the nectarine lives).
I just buy mine online, from sites like Green Gardener, though many other sell them too.
Might be worth asking them if there are any nematodes that work specifically to parasitise and kill off scale insects.
Would be ideal in a greenhouse.