Peach infection

Hello fellow members, I have a problem with my peach tree as you can see it lives in a greenhouse. About 4 years ago i had an invasion of these [see below] baddies. The first year I spotted it very late and the peaches were half grown. But they had caused quite a mess. [These photos were taken a week ago.]
The first photo things look ok.




I have them under control with diluted Jeys and a toothbrush. But they always return any ideas what they are and some way of killing them off.

 

It doesn't seem to be one of the usual pests of peach and plum. Drawn a blank on this one so far but still searching.

 

I've seen this on trees in the street around here, mostly on small maples.
Never actuall found out what it is, so would be interested to find out.
Could it be some kind of scale insect.

 

Yes I think it is a scale insect of some kind, try google.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0801/scale.asp

[ 24. April 2006, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: pete2255 ]

 

they could be HEMISPHERICAL SCALE.

Symtoms:
the stems are sticky with honeydew(excrement) and they appear blackened with sooty moulds.
heavily infested plants may also show slow growth. White waxy deposits contianing eggs also occasionally appear on the stems.
Control:
spray deciduous fruit trees with a tar oil wash in winter. Other plants may be sprayed with malathion.
this is most effective when the mewly hatched scale nymphs are present-- throughout the year on greenhouse plants, early to mid summer outside.

hope this was helpful.

 

The way it works is it has a advance party that sets up camp further along the stem or stems. Then one of them tips up and lays loads of white eggs, not unlike a spiders, and stays put while the rest march on. I thought it was some sort of spider a few years ago but no it is not. Before they tip up they look like minature limpets. They are very slow moving.
They do look as if they are a Scale type they could well be of that family. I will look into it later on google following the info above after[****nal v Villareal [away] Thanks all.