Gloomy scale is an armored scale creep that may cause considerable damage to
red maples. These insects may also be found on; snowbell (Styrax), grape, Chinaberry, hollies,
mulberry, sweetgum, and buckthorn. The shells, or tests, of gloomy scale appear as small black
bumps and can be found on the trunk and limbs of trees. These insects feed directly from the
tree. Over time severe infestations can lead to branch death, and may contribute to over-all tree
decline.
Control for gloomy scale should target the immature crawler phase (1st generation hatching now!), as the mature scale’s test
provides protection from contact sprayed insecticides. Soil and trunk applied systemic
insecticides have not shown to adequately control this insect.
