Symptoms:

Snow scales, white elongated hard scales with pinkish active crawlers are seen on leaves, twigs and panicles. Nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves/ other tender parts, reducing the vigor of the plants. Leaves become stunted; turn yellow, the twigs and branches show dieback symptoms. They secrete honey dew; which facilitate development of sooty mould fungus.

• The armoured scale attacks the leaf, leaf petioles, causing stunting of the plants. Infested fruits are deformed and unmarketable. Severe attacks can kill the plants. The mealy scales or soft scales have a puffy white mealy covering, often confused with mealybugs. Eggs hatch into crawlers, which are flattened and look like dust on the plant surface. Adult females are oval or round, soft, legless and are wingless. Males are tiny yellow-winged soft scales. Soft scales secrete honeydew which attracts ants.

Control