Important: Safety Warning
This page recommends pest-control substances such as arsenic compounds, strychnine, or cyanide — in some cases applied to food crops. These substances are lethal to humans and animals, and their use is now banned or strictly controlled.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Vine Scale Insects
Though occurring in France and in Germany, these insects are not native in Britain. The one most frequently found on Vines is Lecanium Vitis, also called Coccus Vitis. The female is covered with an oval, convex scale, which is a little narrowed in front; the colour is reddish-brown, with black dots; the shield is bordered by the white, cottony secretion in which the red eggs are embedded. The male insects are very small; they are brick-red, with black thorax, brown antennae, and two transparent wings, each with a thickened and red front border; the body ends in two long bristles. This insect lives on the old stems of Vines, preferring such as are sickly; and it occurs either singly or in groups.
Mytilaspis Vitis is another Vine Scale, met with in Germany. It is very like the Apple Mussel Scale (which see), and has usually been mistaken for it; but the tow species differ in certain minute characteristics. The larvae live on the young twigs near the buds; and the spots on which they are placed become brown or blackish. The females live on the twigs of the second year's growth.
Remedies are detailed under Scale Insects. The branches and stems must be well cleansed from the Scales, by means of a stiff brush and strong lye of wood-ashes, or solution of kerosene or carbolic acid. Good manure should afterwards be applied to the roots.