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BeneficialBrown soft scale

Scale destroyer for brown soft scale

Rhyzobius lophanthae · predatory lady beetle
Against brown soft scale

UC lists this beetle among the lady beetles that prey on brown soft scale in citrus. Rincon-Vitova says it eats the eggs and young stages of soft scale. It also warns that honeydew on the leaves hinders the adults and larvae, so rinse the plant before releasing. Ants guard soft scale for its honeydew, so control them too. Koppert and Natural Enemies sell it for armoured scale only.

Rate2–5 per infested plant, or 2–6 per 10 ft² (1 m²), every 1–2 weeks
TimingOn breeding scale with crawlers present, after rinsing off honeydew
TemperatureBest 59–82 °F (15–28 °C), by supplier; active 40–100 °F
macro · scale destroyer on brown soft scale
The pestBrown soft scaleCoccus hesperidumFlat brown bumps on stems and veins; heavy honeydewFull pest profile →

Before you order

Released as adult beetles onto patches of breeding scale. Adults and larvae chew through armoured scale covers and eat the eggs and young of soft scales, and females lay their eggs under the scales. How it works, how to tell it has established and the supplier list are on the full Rhyzobius lophanthae profile.

Release calculator

How many do I need?

Area and infestation level in; quantity, cost and a weekly schedule out. Open the calculator →

Other controls for brown soft scale