Pit Scale
Asterolecanium variolosum
Small soft scale insects that create characteristic sunken pits in the bark of oak trees where they feed. These scales can cause dieback of twigs and branches, and heavy infestations may kill trees.
Identification & Symptoms
What to Look For
Potential Damage
Lifecycle
One generation annually. Adults overwinter on twigs and produce living young during spring and summer. Crawlers settle near parent scales, generally colonizing current season and one-year-old wood. After settling to feed, nymphs never leave that feeding site, reaching maturity several months after feeding begins.
Professional Treatment Approach
Systemic insecticides applied during crawler activity
Horticultural oil applications during dormant season
Monitor for crawler emergence in spring and summer
Improve tree health through proper care
Remove heavily infested branches if localized
Recommended Mauget Products
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