These insects do their damage by sucking out the liquid from leaves and twigs. Many sucking insects (e.g. scale insects) are relatively immobile, living on the outside of a branch and forming a hard protective outer coating while they feed on the plant juices in the twig. Quite often they will excrete a sweet, sticky substance known as honeydew which contains unprocessed plant material. Honeydew can cause sooty mold to form on leaves and can become a nuisance for homeowners. Signs of infestation include scaly formations on branches, dieback of leaves, and honeydew production.

Examples
Scale Insects, Aphids, Leafhoppers, Spider Mites, Thrips

Control
As with other insect infestations, prevention is the best approach. This means maintaining a strong and healthy tree. Once they mature on the tree, sucking insects generally must be killed on contact to prevent reproduction and achieve effective control.

Recommended Products

Prevention

• TreeHelp Annual Care Kits help to maintain the overal health of the tree.

• Monterey Mite and Insect Control repels and eliminates mites, aphids, caterpillars, and many other pests. It can be used on lawns, trees, shrubs, roses, ornamentals, and around house foundations to control insects both indoors and outdoors.

Treatment

• Horticultural Oil can be used as a control for scale insects during the growing season or as a preventative treatment during the dormant winter season, preventing insects from overwintering.

• Insecticidal Soap is a safe and effective control against many sucking insects. Since it is so safe, it is normally used as a first response against insect attacks.

• End All II is made from insecticidal soap, but also contains naturally derived pyrethrins which enhance its effectiveness.

• Bug Buster is a stronger spray made from a synthetic pyrethrin. Bug Buster is recommended when a tree is under attack by a variety of chewing and sucking insects and is an effective treatment against a wide range of insects. Bug Buster is also a good treatment when an insect problem is present, but the type of insect cannot be confirmed.

• In some cases, due to the size of the tree, spraying is not an option. In these cases, there are two effective options:

  • Multi-Insect Killer Tree Injection Kit is injected directly into the tree's trunk and gets throughout the tree in about 72 hours.

  • Once-A-Year Insecticidal Soil Drench w/Merit is applied by watering the treatment right on to th tree's roots. The insecticide is then taken up through the tree's roots and dispersed throughout the tree. This normally takes about 3 weeks and provide protection for the tree for a full year. This is a good treatment when a tree has been repeatedly attacked by sucking insects over several years and a stronger treatment is required.