Fletcher Scale Control on Taxus, 1979

Six insecticide treatments were applied to 3-year-old field grown Taxus at a commercial nursery in East Windsor. The treatments were randomized in a complete block design and repeated 4 times. The test plots consisted of 3 rows and were 12 plants long, and each plot had a common buffer row. On May 3, Temik granules were placed in a 5.08 cm deep furrow, which ran the length of each of the four alleys associated with each plot. The furrows were back filled with a hoe immediately after the insecticide was applied. Sevin and Ethion were applied on May 30 when new crawlers were first appearing, using a small tank sprayer with a nozzle pressure of 30 psi. Enough spray material was applied to allow for complete penetration of the plant crown. Pre and post scale counts were made in the field by examination under 40 magnification of two 10 cm branches cut from each of the eight center plants from the center row of each plot. The soil type in the test area is an Ellington fine sandy loam and a spring soil analysis showed a pH of 5.6 and moderate fertility. The nursery is under a regular herbicide program and the test area was 95% weed-free throughout the 1979 growing season. Pre treatment counts indicated a large Fletcher scale population. To comply with quarantine regulations, Connecticut growers who ship their plants to other states strive for the lowest population levels possible in spite of the lack of injury caused by this insect at low or moderate levels. No plant injury was detect-able in the test area due to scale feeding.