What Pest is This and How do We get Rid of It? Pics

10 years ago

Let me first say, these trees are in a far corner of our 1.5 acre property. They are on drip irrigation. We don't check often. HUGE Mistake. We knew there would be some scorching when our temps hit 115 for a couple days. Not usual for this area, but there are occasional extremes. They are getting plenty of water, but the heat got to them. It's the other issue that is worrisome.

So, DH went to check and he was mystified by this. Is it scale? It doesn't look like any scale we have seen on our citrus.

Is this scale or something else? Scale can be eradicated by rubbing with alcohol, and then treating often with neem, correct?

Featured Answer

fireduck

10 years ago

S...I am not positive about this...but it may not be anything at all. It is possible that that simply is a result of your avo getting torched from the sun. If you look closely at your healthy trees...you will notice a "flecking" on the exterior skin of branches. Some varieties (like Fuerte) can be more "flecked" than others. Perhaps, this just a physical reaction to heat/drying out.

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Comments (10)

Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
Original Author
10 years ago
It's a little late now, but I guess we should get down there and paint for sunburn with diluted latex paint.
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fireduck
10 years ago
It looks pretty burned up...but maybe you can save it. These high pressure heat waves in SoCal can be rough on un-shaded limbs.
TaraMaiden
10 years ago
It could be coral spot....
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
Original Author
10 years ago
So far no coral or pinkish spots and the article you posted does not list Avocado trees as susceptible. Keeping an open mind however. Thanks!
TaraMaiden
10 years ago
In which case, it may just be markings on the bark, (as fireduck pointed out) and a case of neglect/poor husbandry (no insult intended, I'm merely agreeing with your admission in your first post....)
Tim Walker
10 years ago
Is that a branch? Show us the leaves. Maybe scrape a small spot with fingernail and see if still alive. Go paint. Don't delay.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b thanked Tim Walker
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
Original Author
10 years ago
Weather is expected to be 110 degrees tomorrow. The tree is alive and trying to survive. We have wrapped it in shade cloth for now, and maybe throughout the summer. Hopefully it can recover in time. It gets plenty of water. It's just the sun scorch.
fireduck
10 years ago
Hi Suzi...It is a little work....but I affix my shadecloth either to a pvc frame...or a panel of crw. The beauty of it is...you can move it around at a later date for other plants or whatever. You can get inventive as to how to support it...but I am a bit concerned about how you just have it wrapped around there.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b thanked fireduck
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
Original Author
10 years ago
Unfortunately it's windy here every afternoon! No umbrella can stand up to that wind. We have avoided building a movable structure for that reason. These scorching days are rare, and the above is just temporary for this weekend.