Scale insects on currants: 10 ways to get rid of the pest

Signs of scutellum damage

Shield is a very small insect that is excellently camouflaged. To notice the appearance of a pest, you should regularly inspect the leaves and twigs of currant bushes. Signs of the appearance of a dangerous pest can be:

• curling and drying of the leaves;
  

  Shchitovka on currant leaves.

• the appearance of brown dots on the surface of the sheet plate;
• the presence of a transparent sticky coating on twigs and leaves;
• the formation of a gray coating on different surfaces of the plant;
• the appearance of cracks in the bark.

What is the danger of the appearance of scale insects on currants

This pest can cause great harm to plants, so it is very important to diagnose the infection in a timely manner and start the fight. The appearance of scale insects on currant bushes can eventually lead to the following consequences:

Methods of dealing with scale insects on currant bushes

As in the case of other plants, there are several ways to deal with scabies on currant bushes.

Mechanical method

Leaf affected by scab.

This method consists of doing the following:

• cleaning the trunk, branches and leaves with a sponge or toothbrush previously moistened with soapy water;
• removal of heavily infected shoots;
• annual hilling of currant bushes in the autumn.

Chemicals

The use of chemicals for pest control is considered the most effective method of all. But, in the case of scale insects, some chemicals are ineffective against adults. The most popular means against scale insects are:

Folk remedies

Shchitovka on currant shoots.

Many folk recipes turn out to be quite effective and cope with a dangerous pest no worse than specialized drugs. The proven and most effective folk remedies are:

• tobacco infusion;
• decoction of hot pepper;
• solution with tar soap and vegetable oil.

Biological method

Another popular way to destroy scale insects is to attract their natural enemies to the site. In the fight against a dangerous pest, a person can help:

• ladybugs;
• hylocorus beetle;
• parasites of the genus Aphytis.

Currant is often a tasty bush for various pests and diseases. Read about how to deal with insects on currants.

Prevention of the appearance of wood lice on currants

In order to prevent infection of currant bushes with a scab, you need to carefully monitor the general condition of the plant and follow some recommendations:

• carry out preventive spraying several times a year;
• water and feed the plant in a timely manner;
• carefully inspect seedlings and grafting material upon purchase;
• regularly remove weeds and fallen leaves.

Varieties resistant to scale insects

Thanks to modern breeding, new varieties of plants appear every year that have strong immunity and high resistance to most pests and diseases. This also applies to currants.

Among the varieties of blackcurrant, there are tasty and resistant to scale insects. There are a number of varieties of red currant resistant to pests.

Conclusion

Currant bushes are not so difficult to grow. They are quite unpretentious and do not require special attention. But, it is very important to adhere to the correct agricultural practices and regularly inspect the plant for infection with diseases or pests, because the timely start of treatment can save not only the harvest of delicious berries, but also the life of the bush itself.