Cycad Aulacaspis Scale
Specializing in safe, affordable Household Pest Prevention. Our Lawn & Plant Health Care services are a real alternative to "lawn spray" services. Our horticultural services are customized to suit the property. We inspect before any treating is done to determine the need. We care for St. Augustine grass, palms, azaleas, oaks and nearly every other plant you might find in the central Florida landscape. We also make recommendations for proper pruning, mowing and watering. Pest Prevention for homes and businesses is designed to stop pests before they enter the building. These pests includes ants, roaches, spiders and wasps. Stopping these pests before they make it inside is the safest and most efficient way to perform this type of service.
Cycad Aulacaspis Scale
Cycad Aulacaspis Scale is a new insect pest to central Florida. It attacks mainly Cycas Revoluta – the King Sago, but attacks other, rarer Cycads as well. Only a few years ago its territory was confined to south Florida. It has now become so widespread in central Florida as to be seemingly everywhere.
This pest is much worse than other scale insects that attack ornamental plants. It multiplies very rapidly and in many cases it is considered not controllable. It begins as common looking white scale on the lower part of the Sago leaves. It soon covers entire leaves in great numbers, coating the leaves in a white crust. Leaves rapidly turn yellow and ultimately die.
Experience has shown that Sagos that were previously clean can become severely infested in a few short weeks. We are currently treating for it whenever we find it with insecticide plus horticultural oil treatments. We are also experimenting with insect growth regulators in an attempt to slow reproduction. However, no current treatment can assure complete long term control of this pest.
Update: In 2004 we began using a insect growth regulator labeled for the control of this pest. These treatments have proven to be far more successful than past efforts. We now believe that there is a remedy for this pest. We don't claim to eradicate it however. Cycad scale can harbor in the roots of Sagos giving them a chance to reinfest.
