Figure 4. Azalea Bark Scale (Erlococcus azalene) Recognition and Life Cycle Females are approximately 1/8-inch long and covered with a white, waxy egg sac. Pest description and damage Azalea sawfly adults are small black fly-like insects. Eggs are laid in the spring and hatch from late-June to mid-July. Amauronematus azalae or Nematus lipvsky. See below Description. Eggs (left) and adult of the hawthorn lace bug. A large population of the insects will cause leaf discoloration, some dieback and an … Female azalea bark scales lay their eggs in midspring, dotting azalea plants with what appear to be 1/10-inch-diameter white spots. Clockwise from the top: egg, first-stage nymph, second-stage nymph, third-stage nymph, adult. Introduction Azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleae, is a scale insect that is a pest of azaleas, rhododendrons, and other members of the Heath family.They feed on the juices of the plants. Print Image. In Iowa, most species of shade trees, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs are subject to scale insect attacks. Life Cycle. Life Cycle. Life cycle of the azalea lace bug. The life cycle of scales always includes an egg, immature and adult phases. Life Cycle Scale insects have three distinct life stages (egg, immature, adult) and may complete several generations in a single year. Scale insects are sap-feeding insects named for the scale or shell-like waxy covering that conceals their bodies. Crawler activity for azalea bark scale was similar to wax scale noted above at the same location in 2014. These hatch around late June through July and the crawlers settle in bark crevices, on leaves, or twig forks and pass through several stages. Adult females produce eggs beneath the scale ... Azalea bark azalea, rhodi, blueberry, willow, andromeda bark *immature one … Whether flat against leaves or fruit, or lumpy bumps on branches or stems, this widespread superfamily of insects is well over 8000 species strong. The female azalea bark scale lays her eggs in the spring in a white, waxy coating she produces. The larvae feed on leaves at the tips of twigs and branches. Azalea bark scale is a third insect pest of azalea. They feed only on Rhododendron mollis and R. occidentalis azaleas. This wax covers the entire body. Azalea bark scale, in our experience, will cause plant decline faster that cottony azalea scale.The life cycle of these scales and controls are similar to cottony taxus scale. Scale insects can weaken and even kill trees, shrubs and houseplants, but in general, complete loss of the plant is rare. Phonetic Spelling rho-doh-DEN-dron per-ih-kly-men-OY-deez This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Azalea bark scale overwinters as nymphs or adults in the northeast, laying up to 250 eggs in spring. Cottony azalea scale has much more of a “cottony” appearance and during the egg-laying stage will appear much larger than azalea bark scale. Phonetic Spelling rho-doh-DEN-dron kah-len-dew-LAY-see-um This plant has high severity poison characteristics. The crawlers like to attach to the bark and feed in crevices and branch forks. Overview. This insect produces a white or cottony sac that is often found attached in the axils of twigs and leaves during May to June and September through October. Not to scale. Many of them are agricultural pests, while others prey on trees or other plant life. The crawlers emerge in about three weeks. Infested azaleas usually appear chlorotic, and severe infestation of azalea bark scale can weaken or … These mobile immatures are known as "crawlers". The larvae are green and closely match the leaf color of their host plants. 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