Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001764
11/12/99
Cottony Maple Scale
This scale looks like cotton balls (Vis. 1) attached to the
stem.
The insect overwinters as a female scale. In spring the
female matures and lays eggs. The eggs hatch in late
June and July and the crawlers move to the leaves. The
crawlers insert their mouthparts and begin to suck sap
from the leaves. The females move back to the branches
before the leaves drop.
The insect injures the plant by sucking the sap. The
insects will excrete honeydew and this can support the
growth of black sooty mold. Heavy infestations can cause
leaf drop.
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This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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