Fluffy white stuff on my maple leaves! Photos linked.

[Billbo1970]

I've got a problem, I see very little on the branches & twigs, it's mostly on the underside of the leaves:

http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/Fungus_1.JPG

http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/Fungus_2.JPG

Is this some form of scale? Is it a problem that needs to be addressed? I just noticed it when pruning back some of the lower branches over my driveway. It seems to only be affecting my maples. I see a few branches that are not dead (yet), but have absolutely no foliage on them whatsoever, not sure if it's related?


Bill

[Kisal]

Perhaps Cottony Maple Leaf Scale.

There is information and some pictures here.

[Billbo1970]

it looks VERY like that, but there is no brown whatsoever, just the fluffy white stuff....

[Kisal]

Did you look at the links I offered? The egg sacks don't always have brown on them.

[Billbo1970]

Yes, I looked but don't see many photos to compare with. Also, I don't see any evidence of the leaves being 'eaten', just this white stuff.

In any event, is this something I need to be concerned about?

Oh, and in case region is any consideration, I'm in NY on Long Island.

Bill

[Kisal]

Bill, scale insects don't have chewing mouthparts. They have piercing mouthparts and suck the sap from plants. They don't leave any bitemarks, such as would be left by caterpillars or beetles.

[Billbo1970]

Bill, scale insects don't have chewing mouthparts. They have piercing mouthparts and suck the sap from plants. They don't leave any bitemarks, such as would be left by caterpillars or beetles.

Ah, well that would explain that then. Do i need to treat this, or will the trees be ok?

What keeps bugging me is that every photo I see about "Cottony Maple Scale" shows the stuff all over the branches & twigs. I have almost none at all on the branches & twigs, just the undersides of the leaves??

Bill

[Kisal]

If the tree isn't healthy for some other reason, and the infestation is bad enough, it can kill small branches. Ladybugs and their larvae are predators of scale insects. You can buy ladybugs at some garden centers and online.

This Factsheet from Ohio State University has good suggestions for organic controls, and offers some good reasons why non-organic controls aren't a good idea.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2019.html

[Billbo1970]

I'm pretty sure you're right, it's scales. It is only affecting the younger saplings, the older & healthier trees don't appear to have any (at least not the lower branches that I can see). The driveway is forested on either side, so I don't mind losing a few saplings.

If anyone else is curious to diagnose, here are some more photos of the little buggers. The photos are very high res, if you're on dial-up you'll need to be patient. Your browser will shrink the images, click on them for full-size:

Distance shot:
http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/ ... ed-far.JPG

Distance shot zoomed in, showing more coverage:
http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/Scales_far.JPG

Close-up of scales, 1 has the brown segment:
http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/ ... 1brown.JPG

Close up of scales, 1 is brown with no fluff at all (or is something else altogether :
http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/ ... ofluff.JPG

Super Close-up:
http://www.filadelfosrc.com/web_images/ ... rclose.JPG


Bill

[Kisal]

Thanks for posting those images! They're very good!

This seems to be a bad year for cottony maple scale infestations. You were the 3rd person to ask about them in the past 3 days. Now we have some good images for other members to see.

[DankyDoo]

the scale also produces honeydew on the leaves which causes powdery mildew