Forbes Scale

Scientific Name

Quadraspidiotus forbesi

 

Host

Fruit trees including apple, cherry, peach, apricot, pear, plum, etc. 

 

Habitat

Forbes scales, like San Jose scales, cause injury by feeding on sap through twigs, branches, and fruit; they may also inject salivary toxins while feeding. Trees may eventually become weakened and die. 

 

Description

Small, immobile, with no visible legs or antennae, they resemble fish scales on the plant. Female scales give birth to living young (crawlers) that emerge from under the edge of the scale covering. Late crawler stages are similar to San Jose scale but are larger and brown in color. Adults are also similar to San Jose scales, except Forbes scales have a raised, reddish area in the center while San Jose have a center with pale yellow nipple. 

 

Control

Please contact your local county extension office for current information.