Contents: By Damage and Image
Cottony camellia scale
First described in 1870 by Westwood, the cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), shows up most commonly on
Contents: By Damage and Image
Cottony camellia scale
First described in 1870 by Westwood, the cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), shows up most commonly on holly in PNW nurseries and landscapes. It does have a wider host range (at least 35 plant families according to Scalenet) including its namesake camellias, English ivy, euonymous, hydrangea, maple, mulberry, pittosporum, rhododendron and the host by which it is also known, cottony yew scale.
According to the IPM alert database, egg hatch (eclosion) occurred approximately 7/3/2011 and 6/23/2009. This is a key time to control the crawler stage, which is very vulnerable to a range of "softer" pesticides include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, and insect growth regulators. Only one generation per year has been noted in the Pacific Northwest.
It has been reported that a 2% rate of oil (versus 1% rate) applied during the dormant stage works well.
Systemic insecticides: Fall timing of imidacloprid gives time for that systemic insecticide to move through the plant to the target tissue by spring. Dinotefuran (Safari) moves more quickly in plant tissue and can be used in the spring. Orthene is reported to have efficacy on this scale as well when used during the dormant stage.
Doubrava, N. et al. 2015. Camellia Diseases and Insect Pests. Clemson Cooperative Extension. <27 April 2016>
Miller, D. et al. 2014. Pulvinaria floccifera. Scale Insects: Identification Tools for Scales of Quarantine Importance. Systematic Entomology Lab. USDA. <27 April 2016).
Raupp, M. 2010. Flocked Hollies: Cottony Camellia Scale, Pulvinaria floccifera. Bug of the Week. University of Maryland.
LivingWithBugs.com: Cottony camellia scale
Cottony camellia scale. PNW Insect Management Handbook.
Orginal publication: 6-22-2009
Author: R.L. Rosetta, Extension Nursery Integrated Pest Management, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University