Control Methods for Japanese Wax Scale Infestation on Boxwood

One generation occurs per year, with fertilized female adults overwintering on twigs and shoots.

Morphological characteristics: female adult, wax shell grayish white or slightly flesh-red, oval. Male adult, body dark brown or brown, head and thoracic dorsal plate darker. Nymph, wax shell ovate to elliptical, dorsum slightly raised.

Control methods: (1) Quarantine measures: when purchasing seedlings from other locations, plant quarantine procedures must be strictly implemented to prevent artificial spread of the pest. (2) Strengthen garden maintenance and management: through maintenance and management, create environmental conditions unsuitable for scale insect survival. Implement crop rotation, clean up the garden promptly, and centrally burn fallen leaves, weeds, diseased and pest-infested branches to reduce the overwintering pest population base; apply fertilizer reasonably to enhance plant resistance. Prune reasonably to improve ventilation and light penetration, change the living environment of scale insects, weaken their reproductive capacity, and reduce damage. (3) Chemical control: when pest density is low, use a soft brush dipped in a small amount of dichlorvos diluted with water (1:50 to 100 solution) to wipe them out. During the peak nymph period, spray washing powder diesel emulsion; 150 to 200 times neem oil emulsion; 1% matrine 1000 to 2000 times solution; 2000 to 2500 times Dali Sha, spraying once every 10 days or so, for 3 consecutive sprays. (4) Protect natural enemies such as parasitic wasps.