Chinese Elm Red Scale ID and Treatment

[HENDO]

Hi All,

I recently noticed what looks like a red scale on my Chinese Elms. Here are some pictures from the largest Elm which appears to be the most affected. It runs off quite easily and is powdery, but there is a lot of it on the trunk and primary branches. This particular tree gets 4+ hours of full sun a day, outside of course.

Is this for sure some sort of scale insect?

If so, how do you treat this on Chinese Elms? I've read a lot of material saying that CE do not like most insecticides/fungicides?

Yesterday I gave this big elm a pretty heavy pruning so am hesitant to do anything that would weaken it right now...

Any risk to junipers, azaleas, maples, boxwoods, all on the same benches?

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[MHBonsai]

Doesn't look like scale to me really...can you scrape them off and squish them?

 

[HENDO]

Doesn't look like scale to me really...can you scrape them off and squish them?

They kind of just scrape/rub off and leave a lighter bump underneath, kind of dry-ish.

Here is a section with them scraped off:

 

[MHBonsai]

You are good. Not scale.

 

[Shibui]

This is normal on Chinese elm bark.

 

[HENDO]

This is normal on Chinese elm bark.

Phew! Thanks @MHBonsai & @Shibui !

I was wondering, because it just looked odd and I never noticed it before.

What exactly are these red bumps??

 

[John P.]

LOL — could be back budding.

 

[AJL]

Looks like Lenticels! quite normal

 

[Davidlpf]

Looks like Lenticels! quite normal

+1

Nothing to worry about!

Cheers

 

[penumbra]

Looks like Lenticels! quite normal

Yes.

 

[LanceMac10]

And don't be surprised if the bark flakes off in those areas....it's normal.

 

[sorce]

I found one Red scale on my Winged elm.

1. On a winged elm.

What a pain in the ass!

Scale is just a bit more glossy than surrounding areas. A bit less porous.
It's easier to identify the texture than the look.

Sorce