Any help appreciated. As I have honeybees that work the flowers, I cannot use systemics. And hand picking is not an option, more than 40 plants affected. Ants are controlled with cinnamon. I do have aphid troubles, but I guess I'll try spraying with Malathion late today, or anything else I can find at the garden center., UGH!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
There is not much you can spray that will control scale, and not harm honeybees.
How about covering them with some light, airy mesh to keep the bees off while you spray, and until the pesticide is gone?
If you can spray when the scale is in its crawler form you can use the milder sprays- just add a good surfactant/spreader-sticker. Once the scale has settled down and secured its protectice shell they are highly resistant to most sprays. Systemics are about the only way to kill them.
