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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
just dumped one of my most prized plant today. the damage was beyond saving. there were few scales on the trunk that i killed and there were what looked like egg cluster under the shell. thought about getting the tip cutting and saving it, but didn't know if that was worth the effort. 

did visual check on all my trees and this was the only one infected. not sure why. this tree was isolated from the others before putting into the garage for the winter. i would imaging it might have moved on to others by now. 

i might have to spray all my trees in the spring. dang it. 
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
needaclone

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Pete,
  Are you saying it was damaged beyond saving from the scale attack?  What makes you think it was damaged beyond saving? 
I picked up some trees in late 2012 that ended up being pretty heavily infested with scale.  I treated them (twice for good measure) and one of them ended up being my 2nd top producer in 2013.
Jim
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Clarksburg, NJ - Zone 6b Wishlist - A wise man recommended: Nero600M .  Malta Black . Tacoma (Takoma) Violet . Gino's . Adriatic JH  . Vista Mission . Florea . Atreano .  ...also...RdB, Bethlehem Black, Negronne, Grise de St. Jean, Livano, Col de Dame Blanc/Gris/Noir, Vasilika Sika, Longue D'Aout, Italian 258, Pennsylvania 6-5000
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
the area right above the soil level has completely hollowed out dry. the plant was only about 5" tall. the damage was already done on those area along with female shells with eggs under them. way i see it i'll have to cut the top and reroot this. but it's one top cutting that is very thin and i don't think it will root too well. i don't think it's worth the time and attention it will need.

it seems to be infected heavily before, and i'd rather get rid of it then risk contamination to other figs.

going over visual inspection of remaining 72 trees wasn't fun.

i'll spray with soap on the rest of the trees when weather gets better.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
this is a very common pest in Mediterranean, specially on fig trees. they are well accepted in fig owner's bible in Europe/Mediterranean countries. They are never a bother.
Scales on a fig branch.jpeg 
strudeldog

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Where is love and compassion Pete. Would you shoot the dog if it got fleas? :)
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Phil N.GA. Zone 7 Looking for: De La Reina, Del La Senyora, Martinenca Rimada, Parfum De Cafards, Ponte Tresa,  Sangue Dulce, Emalyn's Purple, and on and on
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
hmm.. if i had 72 dogs and if that mutt was causing issue to rest.. might think about shooting it x) just ordered soap and pump sprayer. all the trees are getting visual inspection as soon as soap gets here. 
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
needaclone

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Pete,
  Maybe this tree will grow back from the roots...
  Did you happen to get any pictures?  I have one tree that has a similar "hollowed out dry" area just above he soil line on ones side (not all the way around). I think it also has it in one or two other places, too.  However, it hasn't had scales, at least in the 2 years I've had it.  Maybe there's something else going on besides scales.
Jim
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Clarksburg, NJ - Zone 6b Wishlist - A wise man recommended: Nero600M .  Malta Black . Tacoma (Takoma) Violet . Gino's . Adriatic JH  . Vista Mission . Florea . Atreano .  ...also...RdB, Bethlehem Black, Negronne, Grise de St. Jean, Livano, Col de Dame Blanc/Gris/Noir, Vasilika Sika, Longue D'Aout, Italian 258, Pennsylvania 6-5000
RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
There are a few treatments for scale here....

http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=137
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
no pix. i already got rid of it. it's very regrettable. but it's done. saving tree is a good idea, but i don't want scales on other trees since none of the others have it. this one just gotta go. when soap and dump sprayer comes, all the trees will be treated every spring and every winter so i don't have to see the scales any more. 
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
strudeldog

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Your a cold one Pete. What cultivar was it "Old Yeller"?
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Phil N.GA. Zone 7 Looking for: De La Reina, Del La Senyora, Martinenca Rimada, Parfum De Cafards, Ponte Tresa,  Sangue Dulce, Emalyn's Purple, and on and on
newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Pete, I had a Petite Nergri that had scale last year but it was the only one. I was able to pick them off and destroy.

What type of soap are you getting?
Grasa

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
how about cutting all the top off, but one bud?  Oh Pete.  I am scared of these guys now..
sorry you have to dispose of it.
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Grasa
Seattle, WA
Ruuting

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Sorry to hear that, Pete.
Hey, I might have an extra cutting of Nordland for you this spring. It's my backup in the fridge, and the two others that I started are looking good.
New dog for you, I'm putting your name on it.

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Rui
Southeast CT, zone 6B
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
I have never seen a scale do such a serious damage, seriously! There must be something else going on on that little guy
possum_trot

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
When treating scale I've had the best luck spraying with a mix of rubbing alcohol and water. Gets them all the first spray and kills the eggs. Works much better than soap. I don't remember the exact amount of alcohol to water but I learned about it on the forum. They always seem to come back with soap - sometimes I won't see one for months but finally they come back. Not with the alcohol and water, though.
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Susan

Brown County, Indiana
zone 6
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
right now, i don't see any scale after that one and a female with bunch of eggs under it. i'll treat them with soap first.. when the day temp goes up to 50 or so. then will treat them again when coming out of the garage. if i see it again, then i'll do alcohol solution. which one is better? jack or scotch? lately i've been leaning more toward jack. 
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
alcohol solution using 70% rubbing alcohol is 1:4 to 1:2. that seems like a lot of alcohol. 
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Was it a Nordland?  Let us know.  I'm sure one of us can help you replace it.  I wouldn't dilute the rubbing alcohol at all.  It takes a minimum of 50% to kill mealy bugs and they don't have a shell.
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Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
possum_trot

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 

I think spraying the whole plant with pure alcohol could kill the plant...
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Susan

Brown County, Indiana
zone 6
possum_trot

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Oh, and Pete, I'd go with vodka.
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Susan

Brown County, Indiana
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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
not saying which one. but, i don't have rare figs and this one was rare.
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Pete
Durham, NC
Zone 7b

"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Grasa

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Pete, I am puzzled.. couldn't you have cut up the top completely? Usually they send out more suckers from the bottom... hum, poor tree.
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Grasa
Seattle, WA
DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Scale is often found on Citrus trees and we've used alcohol successfully on ours.  I never knew scale is found on Figs too.  I'll have to go check all the trees.  Thanks for the alert.  Sorry you lost your tree.

Suzi
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Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
I'm reviving this old thread because I have a scale infestation on one of the figs rooted outdoors last fall that is being overwintered in-doors.  So far what I have done is to swab (with a q-tip) any evidence of insects with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol.  However, after doing this once I looked a couple days later and saw one or two new mature scales.  So now I am thinking of spraying with isopropyl alcohol mixed with a bit of detergent as suggested in this link provided earlier in the thread:
http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=137

However, that link is geared more toward orchids.  It doesn't state whether the alcohol is to be diluted with water at all.  There are comments elsewhere in thread about diluting the alchohol but no definitive dilution is provided that is known to kill the bugs but not harm the fig tissue.  Has anyone used this treatment successfully with figs and, if so, what dilution did you use?  Thanks!
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Steve MD zone 7a
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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Scale is a sucking insect. It will not cause bark damage or hollows in the wood. You may have scale, which is not uncommon on figs, but you another issue, too.
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timmy2green

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Just sprayed a couple citrus trees in my shower with neem oil and vegetable oil.  Made a mess of the shower.  Not fun cleaning up after.  I have issues with my tropicals indoors every winter.  Never saw any on my figs and certain types of tropicals so I always thought they couldn't get them.  Glad to have this info so I can be more vigilant not to let them spread to my figs in the future.  I always spray my plants with some sort of oil product like neem or hort oil before putting them away in the garage for the winter.  I think I'll try the alcohol next time.  Easier to clean!
Timothy
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RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rewton
I'm reviving this old thread because I have a scale infestation on one of the figs rooted outdoors last fall that is being overwintered in-doors.  So far what I have done is to use swap any evidence of insects with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol.  However, after doing this once I looked a couple days later and saw one or two new mature scales.  So now I am thinking of spraying with isopropyl alcohol mixed with a bit of detergent as suggested in this link provided earlier in the thread:
http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=137

However, that link is geared more toward orchids.  It doesn't state whether the alcohol is to be diluted with water at all.  There are comments elsewhere in thread about diluting the alchohol but no definitive dilution is provided that is known to kill the bugs but not harm the fig tissue.  Has anyone used this treatment successfully with figs and, if so, what dilution did you use?  Thanks!


I use the mix they recommend for spider mites and I also pick them off the plant as I see them. I have one plant I brought from outdoors into the house that was loosing leaves that had them and it is now growing leaves again. Fortunately I do not see any scales on the plants that were around this one.

I'm never bringing outdoor fig plants into the house for winter again.
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Thanks for your comment Rich.  I ended up using a mix of 1 part 70% isopropyl alcohol to 3 parts water.  I also added 4 drops dishwashing liquid to about 1-2 cups of this stuff.  I just finished spraying my fig.  I'll post what happens.
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RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rewton
Thanks for your comment Rich.  I ended up using a mix of 1 part 70% isopropyl alcohol to 3 parts water.  I also added 4 drops dishwashing liquid to about 1-2 cups of this stuff.  I just finished spraying my fig.  I'll post what happens.


You're welcome
Figinqueens

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
I used neem with a little dish soap did part of the trick last year on my citrus but then ended up using rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs and wiping down all branches and leaves. I am battling bad mites now but don't want to spray the neem inside because it will get all over the floor and stink.
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Wish list - VDB, Adriatic JH, other sweet/berry figs good for pots in this zone
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