Since 2011, our producers have been making numerous requests to the Provincial and District Directorates for help in combating the plum scale insect (Scale beetle), which has caused significant damage to apricot orchards in our province. While the intensity of this pest in apricot and other stone fruit orchards in our province has decreased by 2026, it still remains a potential threat this year due to the rainy and variable climate. For our farmers to combat this pest effectively and at the right time, they need to have a thorough understanding of its biology. The biology and control methods of this pest are described below.

DESCRIPTION AND LIFE CYCLE
The adult female is hemispherical and convex in shape. Its color is dark brown or glossy dark brown. It overwinters as a second-stage nymph. Nymphs begin to develop at the end of March with the warming of the weather, becoming adults at the end of April. Eggs begin to appear from May onwards. A single female can have 2000-3000 eggs under its shell. In our region, the first mobile nymphs of the new season can be seen at the end of May or the beginning of June.

TYPE OF DAMAGE
The plum scale forms colonies on the trunk and thick branches. It causes damage in two ways: by weakening the trees and drying out the branches as a result of feeding by adults and nymphs, and by secreting a large amount of sugary substance. As a result of feeding, a gum exudation occurs on the branches, secreted by the tree. When the secreted sugary substance contaminates shoots, leaves, and fruits, it prevents the respiration of the leaves and also causes fungal growth on the fruits, thus degrading fruit quality.

PLANTS AFFECTED
It is found on stone fruit trees. It is most commonly seen on plums. In our region, it is also frequently seen on apricot trees and other stone fruit trees.

CONTROL METHODS
CULTURAL MEASURES
In areas with very high infestation levels, heavily infested branches should be cut and pruned away from the orchard at the end of winter or the beginning of spring. Maintaining strong trees, meticulously performing maintenance, and avoiding dense planting are also among the general cultural measures.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
Before the 2nd stage nymphs reach the adult stage (late March-early April), spraying with summer oils should be carried out. In our region, the time for control with summer oils is the period after the scab treatment, which is the stage when the fruit emerges from the husk. Air temperature should be above 5°C and below 29°C. In apricot orchards to be treated with summer oils, Captan-based and sulfur-containing pesticides should not be used 20 days before and after spraying. Since summer oil control in apricot orchards coincides with the leafy stage of the trees, and because complete surface coverage cannot be achieved with pesticide application, the desired success has not been obtained.

If our gardens have not been treated with summer oils, spraying should be done against the first-stage nymphs during the egg-laying period, generally from the end of April to the beginning of May, or by monitoring the emergence of mobile nymphs from under the bark, 15-20 days after the first emergence, or when the emergence rate of mobile nymphs reaches 60%. In our region, this period is generally from May to the beginning and middle of June, depending on the temperature.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As we know, our apricots are an export product. Products destined for export must absolutely be free of pesticide residues. Otherwise, our products are returned, negatively impacting Malatya apricots. In some of the apricot samples taken before the harvest by the Provincial Directorate, residues were found due to the random use of pesticides without a prescription for Plum Scale, and punitive measures have been taken against those responsible.

To ensure there are absolutely no pesticide residues in our apricots, it is of utmost importance that our producers, if they plan to combat Plum Scale this year, visit the Provincial and District Directorates and obtain a prescription.