At Lindcove, the fourth male flight extended over nearly four weeks, starting in mid September, and the crawler count shows a fourth period of activity during the week of October 15 th . This area is now accumulating degree-days at about 50 DD per week. If these temperatures stayed constant, the crawlers would reach the third instar at the end of November, but this is not likely to occur. Cottony cushion scale Cottony cushion scale continues to build in a number of citrus orchards in the San Joaquin Valley. Populations consist primarily of late 3 rd instars and females with eggs.
Vedalia beetle normally flies into citrus orchards and fully controls the cottony cushion scale.
However, this year the Vedalia has not been seen since spring or early summer. We have been watching Knack and Applaud treated blocks and as predicted these treatments eliminated the Vedalia beetle. However, untreated blocks also do not have beetles. We suspect that El Ni o had an effect on Vedalia as well as IGR sprays. We would like to know at what point does the Vedalia beetle returns to the Knack or Applaud treated blocks.