Olive scale
Class: Insects
Common Name
Olive scale
Scientific name
Parlatoria oleae
Potential Hosts
Olives, plum, pear, and apple
Who am I?
The olive scale, Parlatoria oleae is a soft scale insect belonging to the Coccidae family. Adults are 2-3 mm long with oval, reddish bodies covered by a waxy layer that gives them a grayish-white color. Adult females cover their eggs and remain mostly immobile. The first instars ("crawlers") emerge from the eggs and immediately search for a spot to feed on. Olive scale feeds on twigs and leaves, but it prefers to feed on fruit when fruit is present.
Infested fruits will develop purple spots that are most likely noticed during harvest time. The formation of purple spots on green fruits makes them unsuitable for most markets. Intense infestations can significantly lower tree productivity.
Control measures
Conventional (chemical)
Chemical control of olive scale revolves around pyriproxyfen-based products, which is an insect growth regulator. For this reason, application timing is crucial because insecticides are effective only against the crawlers (the most sensitive stage of the olive scale). Therefore, spraying applications should take place when crawlers emerge.
One can use traps to determine when crawlers are hatching. In spring, take transparent tape that is sticky on both sides and encircle several branches of infested trees. Change the sticky tape on a weekly basis. Use a hand lens to identify the crawlers; they will stick to the tape and look like tiny yellow dots.
Biological
Olive scale can be effectively controlled by the natural enemies Aphytis maculicornis and Coccophagoides utilis, which are commonly found in many regions. Make an effort to protect natural enemies by selecting insecticides that do not kill beneficial insects. Minimize the use of insecticides with carbamates, organophosphates, and pyrethroids as much as possible.
Caution and careful notice should be taken when using any plant protection products (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides). It is the grower’s sole responsibility to keep track of the legal uses and permissions with respect to the laws in their country and destination markets. Always read the instructions written on labels, and in a case of contradiction, work in accordance to the product label. Keep in mind that information written on the label usually applies to local markets. Pest control products intended for organic farming are generally considered to be less effective in comparison to conventional products. When dealing with organic, biologic, and to some extent a small number of conventional chemical products, a complete eradication of a pest or disease will often require several iterations of a specific treatment or combination of treatments.