Educational Resource Update:
- Updated 2026 Guide -Rutgers Ornamental Pest Scouting – Scouting with Growing Degree Days (click here) is now available. This version combines the LONT and Christmas tree versions into an easier to use resource. Note there is a digital QR code on the front of this document that allows for picture uploads of pests in question or degree-day questions.
Stay informed
- Sign up for the 2026 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program – click here to sign up
- Program is free, but registration is required – Registration includes:
- Site visit to your ornamental nursery/farm from Rutgers agents
- Delivered printed IPM resources (Guides, factsheets, bulletins)
- Free pheromone & sticky trap kit + guidance on setup/monitoring (for commercial nursery/greenhouse and Christmas tree farms)
- Access to live bi-weekly webinars (Zoom)
- (Next session – TUESDAY 6/9 @ 12PM) – Guest Speaker Dr. Richard Cowles – Connecticut Ag Exp. Station – Scale Management
- Every Second and Fourth, Tuesday, April through September
- Visit the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website (click here) for updated webinar videos.
Scale crawler emergence predictions throughout NJ.
Now is an excellent time to be scouting for crawler emergence using double sided (or doubled over – sticky side out) tape. Targeting scale insects is most successful during their crawler periods, however this should be visually confirmed for greatest efficacy. For more information on installing this type of IPM trap and others please see – Setting up and deploying IPM traps – Tutorial Video 2026 (click here).
| Common Name | GDD RANGE | Target Stage | SOUTH – Upper Deerfield (NJ50) | CENTRAL – Howell (NJ10) | NORTH – Randolph NJ (AU137) | ||||
| MIN | MAX | START | STOP | START | STOP | START | STOP | ||
| Cottony camellia / taxus scale (soft) | 520 | – | Crawlers (only) | 17-May | – | 20-May | – | 18-May | – |
| Euonymus scale | 533 | 820 | Crawlers (Gen 1) | 18-May | 3-Jun | 21-May | 8-Jun | 18-May | 7-Jun |
| *Cryptomeria scale | 600 | 800 | Crawlers (Gen 1) | 20-May | 2-Jun | 27-May | 7-Jun | 24-May | 6-Jun |
| *Sprucebud scale (soft) | 700 | 1150 | Crawlers (only) | 27-May | 18-Jun | 2-Jun | 24-Jun | 30-May | 25-Jun |
| White prunicola scale | 707 | 1151 | Crawlers (Gen 1) | 28-May | 18-Jun | 2-Jun | 24-Jun | 30-May | 25-Jun |
| *Juniper scale | 707 | 1260 | Crawlers (Gen 1) | 28-May | 18-Jun | 2-Jun | 24-Jun | 30-May | 25-Jun |
| Calico scale (soft) | 714 | – | Crawlers (only) | 28-May | – | 2-Jun | – | 31-May | – |
| Striped pine scale (soft) | 750 | 800 | Crawlers (only) | 30-May | 2-Jun | 4-Jun | 7-Jun | 2-Jun | 6-Jun |
| Oak lecanium scale (soft) | 789 | – | Crawlers (only) | 1-Jun | – | 6-Jun | – | 5-Jun | – |
| Cottony maple leaf scale (soft) | 802 | 1265 | Crawlers (only) | 2-Jun | 23-Jun | 7-Jun | 29-Jun | 6-Jun | 30-Jun |
| Cottony maple scale (soft) | 802 | 1265 | Crawlers (only) | 2-Jun | 23-Jun | 7-Jun | 29-Jun | 6-Jun | 30-Jun |
| Golden oak scale (Pit) | 802 | 1266 | Crawlers (only) | 2-Jun | 23-Jun | 7-Jun | 29-Jun | 6-Jun | 30-Jun |
| Japanese maple scale | 829 | – | Crawlers (Gen 1) | 3-Jun | – | 9-Jun | – | 7-Jun | – |
| European elm scale (soft) | 831 | 1388 | Crawlers (only) | 4-Jun | 27-Jun | 9-Jun | 4-Jul | 8-Jun | 6-Jul |
| European fruit lecanium scale (soft) | 932 | 1645 | Crawlers (only) | 9-Jun | 7-Jul | 14-Jun | 14-Jul | 14-Jun | 17-Jul |
*Conifer / Christmas Tree scales
Please visit the Rutgers Ornamental IPM Website – Pest and Disease Index (click here) for more detailed information on specific scale species management and pesticide considerations.
Box tree moth – stay vigilant looking for this pest
Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is alive and well in MD, DE, VA, WV, NY, OH, MI, MA. Please report this pest to twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu
If this pest does make its way into New Jersey, and quarantines are established, nurseries will be required to comply with a federal compliance agreement if shipping out of potential quarantine areas. Please review this document if boxwoods are an important crop for you. Compliance Agreement for Production Nurseries in BTM Regulated Nurseries (click here)
