Grapevine scale

Grapevine scale is a small oval shaped sucking bug up to 6 mm long that lives beneath a protective dark brown wax cover. The insect feeds mainly on the stems or canes and if large populations occur, vine growth and grape production can be reduced. The major problem with grapevine scale is that scale excretes honeydew, which falls onto grapevine leaves and bunches leading to sooty mould development and photosynthesis reduction – with subsequent growth and productivity reduction.