Hyperaspis species are tiny, shiny, black lady beetles with several red, orange, or yellow spots on the back. The larvae of certain predaceous lady beetles can be found under the female soft scales feeding on scale eggs and crawlers. Estimate parasite activity by checking scale covers for the round exit holes made by emerging adult parasites and flip armored scale covers and examine beneath them for immature parasites. Grow flowering plants near scale-infested trees and shrubs to help augment natural enemies. Adult parasitic wasps live longer, lay more eggs, and kill more scales when they have nectar or honeydew to feed on.
Dust control is crucial to the success of biological control.
Wash plant surfaces mid-season, or when the foliage is dusty, to encourage biological controls. Natural enemies are commercially available for release against black scale and California red scale. However, conserving resident natural enemies is a more efficient and longer lasting strategy, particularly in garden situations. If large numbers of ants are climbing up trunks to tend scales they should be controlled. If trees are young, thin-barked, or recently pruned, wrap the trunk with a strip of fabric tree wrap, duct tape, or another material first to prevent injuring the tree.