San Jose scale, Comstockaspis perniciosus (Comstock), has become the number one pest of concern for peach growers in Georgia. Growers are following previous management recommendations, but this pest is still out of control. Typically, growers encounter leaf chlorosis and twig or limb die-back due to scale feeding injury, but at high populations growers are also experiencing tree death. Current management recommendations are not effectively managing San Jose scale, which is not sustainable for growers going forward. As such, we are evaluating new and tweaking established management tactics to address this pernicious pest Southeastern peach production.
