Last week I wrote about soft versus armored scale insects. Soft scales exude honeydew, are protected by ants and can be controlled by systemic insecticides, some of which have the active ingredient imidacloprid. Armored scales do not emit honeydew and are not managed by an imidacloprid insecticide.

Imidacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide that is designed to kill piercing/sucking insects via damage to their nervous system. Systemic means it is applied on the leaves, stems or as a soil drench and spreads internally throughout the plant. When an insect feeds on any part of the plant such as the pollen, nectar, flowers, fruit, leaves, or other plant tissues, it ingests the toxic chemical and dies.

Systemic insecticides can kill not only pests such as soft scales, but also their natural enemies and non-target/beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, including butterflies, moths and their larvae. They also can “adversely affect reproduction, growth, insect immune systems, learning, flying, or other attributes even at concentrations too low to cause death outright.” Native bees, who often nest in the ground, can be more susceptible than honeybees, particularly to soil drench applications. 

Systemic insecticides kill over time at a steady concentration, which can cause a longer toxic exposure. Although it is often suggested to apply in the evening when insects aren’t out, or after flowering season, harmful exposures can still occur. These chemicals can last for months or years in soil. They sometimes leach into groundwater but fortunately are usually only slightly toxic to fish. One application may provide season long control.

Chemical insecticides are always a last resort. The risks versus benefits must be carefully evaluated. A healthy thriving plant is one of the best defenses against scale or other insect damage. Good watering, the appropriate amount of fertilizer and maintenance keep a plant resistant to attacks. Predators, including lady beetles, bugs and lacewings, play an important part in pest management.

Plant a diversity of flowering plants to attract and feed natural enemies. Sometimes when you see scales on a plant, they may have already been parasitized by parasitic wasps. If a large number are parasitized, there are eggs in or on each scale eating away at them. Sometimes scales are no longer alive and do not require a pesticide treatment. Check before applying insecticides. Using tape traps to monitor crawlers will help you accurately time the use of horticulture oils, Neem oil or insecticidal soap. Dormant oil treatment on deciduous woody plants will help kill overwintering scale pests and reduce future populations.

JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.

Related

Communities In Schools of Nevada,

among the largest affiliates of a leading evidence-based dropout prevention nonprofit organization, announced a planned leadership transition effective July 13.

Tami Hance-Lehr, chief executive office and state director, plans to retire. Succeeding her, Alex Bybee has been named the next CEO and state director.

“Tami’s leadership, not only across Nevada, but throughout the Communities In Schools national network is marked with incredible success,” said Raymond Specht, board chair of CIS of Nevada. “What she has demonstrated when student supports are prioritized, along with her vision to strengthen partnerships, advance policy and expand access to wraparound evidence-based support is leaving a legacy for the over two-decade strong organization.”

Bybee returns to CIS of Nevada after founding and leading Bybee Co., a consulting practice focused on cross-sector strategies for social impact.

Pitching can be the ultimate difference during a double-elimination Nevada high school baseball state tournament.

So after Bishop Gorman ace Hudson Ciulla threw an efficient 67 pitches in the Gaels’ opening win of the tournament on Thursday, he knew the team could call his number again in the championship round Saturday.

Gorman coach Matt Stoner did just that, and Ciulla made the most of his second outing.

After four strong innings from starter Noah Ramos, Ciulla pitched a perfect final three innings to help Bishop Gorman secure a 5-3 win over Bishop Manogue to win the Class 5A state championship Saturday at Las Vegas High School.

“It’s awesome, it’s a weight off our shoulders,” said Ciulla, a senior right-hander. “It’s been something we’ve been dreaming of my whole life, winning state, especially as a senior. To go out on top, it couldn’t be a better feeling.”

It’s the 10th baseball state title for Gorman. Since the Gaels (32-6) had not lost in the double-elimination tournament entering Saturday, Manogue (30-10) would have needed to beat the Gaels twice on Saturday to claim the title.

“It’s what they talked about doing all year and they went out and did it,” Stoner said. “The team really loved each other and it was special. It was just the togetherness. They wanted it from Day 1 of fall ball. They talked about it, and I said, ‘You talk about it, you got to do it.’”

Gorman’s strong pitching

Manogue gave itself a chance through Saturday. The Miners kept up with Gorman by managing enough runs and limiting the Gaels’ bats. But things changed when Ciulla entered the game in the fifth with Gorman holding a 4-3 lead.

The Gonzaga commit had five innings and 83 pitches to work with before hitting the tournament limit, but Ciulla breezed through the Miners lineup. He struck out seven of the nine batters he faced and did not allow a base runner.

Ramos, who has dealt with forearm tightness throughout the entire season, pitched the Gaels to a win in the region title game on May 9, and got the Gaels to the fifth inning.

“When we pitch and play defense, we can play with anybody,” Stoner said. “Noah Ramos did an incredible job, he’s been battling the injury bug all year and he came in and got us to the fifth inning, which is what we wanted.

“And then, there’s nothing to say about Hudson Ciulla. He’s been amazing this week, he’s been amazing all year for us. He just came in and dominated and that’s what he does. He was exceptional today.”

‘Went through the fire’

Gorman fell behind early when Nate Lemieux hit a two-run homer in the top of the first to give the Miners the lead. The Gaels evened the score in the bottom of the inning on a Chase Wilk RBI double and DaMari Hall following Wilk with an RBI infield single.

“I have so much faith in this team that I knew we were going to come back,” said Wilk, a senior Minnesota commit. “Just doing whatever I can to help the team, that’s my mindset. … That belief just carries me through my play and all of us.”

Wilk and Hall delivered again in the third. With the bases loaded, Wilk recorded a long single after a Manogue outfielder dropped a fly ball. Then Hall had a sacrifice fly to give the Gaels a 4-3 lead.

“We went through the fire,” said Hall, a Washington State football commit. “Last season was tough, we played a lot of good competition this year, including this game. We’ve been down a lot this year, but there’s never a doubt that our bats are going to get going, our pitchers are going to throw strikes and we’re going to be out on top.”

Hall scored an insurance run in the sixth on a Soren Savarda sacrifice fly. Hall finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases, and Wilk was 2-for-3.

“You sit up there and you don’t worry about (the seniors such as Wilk and Hall),” Stoner said. “You know that they are going to do something to help us win. They both stepped up. They have a calming sense about them. I think we were trying too hard on offense (today), we were trying to make it happen instead of doing it. But I’m really proud of them.”

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.