Scales
Credit: Biovision-Infonet
![](https://icowapp.greendreams.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screenshot-2019-10-12-at-14.08.43.png)
(c) M. Knapp, icipe
![](https://icowapp.greendreams.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screenshot-2019-10-12-at-14.08.27.png)
(c) A. M. Varela, icipe
Scales are small (1 to 7 mm long), generally immobile insects, varying in colour and shape according to the species. Female scales have neither wings nor legs. They resemble small shells glued to the plant. Females lay eggs under their scale. Once hatched, the tiny scales (known as crawlers) emerged from under the protective scale. They move in search of a feeding site and do not move afterwards. They suck sap on all above the ground plant parts.
There are two main groups of scales on mangoes: soft and armoured scales. Soft scales excrete honeydew. The most common soft scales on mangoes are soft green scales (Coccus viridis), brown soft scales (Coccus hesperidum), and wax scales (Ceroplastes spp.). The most important armoured scale on mango is the mango white scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis). The body of this scale is reddish brown. Females are covered with a white round shell, while males have a small rectangular shell with two groves.
Feeding by scales may cause yellowing of leaves followed by leaf drop, poor growth, dieback of branches, fruit drop, and blemishes on fruits. Heavily infested young trees may die. In addition, soft scales excrete honeydew, causing growth of sooty mould. In heavy infestations fruits and leaves are heavily coated with sooty mould, turning black. This reduces photosynthetic capacity. Fruits contaminated with sooty mould loose market value. Ants are usually associated with soft scales. They feed on the honeydew excreted by soft scales, preventing a build-up in sooty moulds, but also protecting the scales from natural enemies. Armoured scales do not excrete honeydew.What to do:
- Conserve natural enemies. Scales are attacked by a large range of natural enemies, mainly parasitic wasps and predators (ladybird beetles, lacewings, etc). These natural enemies usually control scales. Outbreaks are generally caused by the use of broad-spectrum pesticides that kill natural enemies, and/or to the presence of large number of ants that feed on honeydew produced by soft scales or other insects (mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids, black flies).
- Spray if necessary with light mineral oils. However, care should be taken when using mineral oils, since at high concentrations, they may be harmful to the trees. Oil sprays should be carried out after picking and not during flowering or during periods of excessive heat or drought. Sprays should target young stages of the scales.
- To protect natural enemies spray alternate tree rows each season.
- At early stages of an outbreak cut and burn affected branches and leaves.