Scale - parasitized

These scale on this Bay plant are parasitized. Notice the exit holes where the adult parasite emerged. Biological control of armored and soft scale may be difficult due to the wide range of scale species that may occur on plants at the same time. Each scale species may require a different natural enemy and there are very few natural enemies currently available to manage scale. Parasites include Metaphycus helvolus for black scale; Metaphycus flavus for brown soft scale and hemispherical scale (likely the scale species in the photo).

Commercially available predators include green lacewings (Chrysoperla spp.)