ROSE SCALE

by Alexandra Spring and Eric Day

DESCRIPTION: White, circular, and scaly; 1/8

inch in diameter.

COMMON HOST PLANT(S): Blackberry,

raspberry, and dewberry.

DAMAGE: Incrusts bark at base of canes; weakens

or kills canes by feeding on sap.

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout United States.

CULTURAL CONTROL: Prune out and destroy all

Rose Scale. Eric Day, Va Tech. heavily infested canes. Keep down weeds in the
planting.

ORGANIC/BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: Dormant oil or horticultural oil. Apply in late spring before leaves open.
Spray when temperature is above 50°F and freezing will not occur within 24 hours. Dormant spraying with liquid
lime sulfur may also give some control.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Insecticide must be applied during the crawler (the mobile, unprotected young of adult
scale insects) stage or when crawlers have just settled. The crawler date for rose scale is late May to June 30.
Make insecticide applications on June 5-10, June 20-25, and in mid August. Treat with a registered insecticide,
follow all label instructions and precautions.

2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 3104-1565

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An
equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Jewel E. Hairston, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.