Beech scale

Beech scale produces a grey-white waxy powder which can be obvious on beech trees. This does little harm to the trees. 

Save to My scrapbook
Beech scale (<EM>Cryptococcus fagisuga</EM>) on Beech (<EM>Fagus sylvatica</EM>)
Beech scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga) on Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Quick facts

Common name  Beech scale
Scientific name Cryptococcus fagisuga
Plants affected Beech trees (Fagus sylvatica
Main symptoms Dirty waxy powder on trunk and larger branches
Caused by Sap sucking scale insects 
Timing Summer

What is beech scale?

Beech scale, also known as felted beech coccus, is a scale insect that feeds on the sap of beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees. It is found in colonies in crevices of the bark of the trunk and larger branches.

Scale insects are sap sucking true bugs belonging to several families in the Hemiptera. Typically the adults are immobile having a flattened or raised appearance, with no visible legs. They often look like a ‘scale’ on a leaf or stem, many species produce a white wax often covering egg masses. There are more than 100 species found in Britain, 26 of which have been introduced. More than 25 species can be found in gardens or on houseplants. 

Symptoms

Individual scales are about 1mm long but populations are usually detected by the grey-white waxy powder that colonies produce.

There is no honeydew produced and little direct damage caused but affected trees may become more susceptible to beech bark disease, a combination of the scale and a canker fungus (Nectria coccinea) (Forest Research information). 

Management

As this insect usually causes little direct damage to trees control is not necessary and it can be treated as part of the insect life that beech trees can support. 

Biology

Beech scale is parthenogenetic (reproducing without the need for males) scale insect with one generation year.

During the summer each female lays clusters of up to eight eggs under the protective white waxy wool like substance. The eggs hatch by late summer and the nymphs settle to feed in bark crevices. They overwinter as nymphs becoming adults in early spring.

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now

Gardeners' calendar

Find out what to do this month with our gardeners' calendar

Advice from the RHS

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.