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Pulvinaria vitis

Woolly vine scale

Description

Pulvinaria vitis, commonly known as the woolly vine scale, is a polyphagous sap-sucking insect that primarily infests woody plants. Adult females are oval-shaped, dark brown, and moderately convex, reaching a length of up to 9 mm. They produce a distinctive white, convex ovisac beneath their bodies in spring, where eggs are laid. In temperate regions, the species has a single generation per year, and adult females overwinter on host plant stems.

This pest is widespread across Europe, favoring plants in the families Betulaceae, Salicaceae, and Rosaceae. Host plants include grapevine (Vitis vinifera), peach (Prunus persica), currants (Ribes spp.), pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea), and more. Infestations are most noticeable in spring and summer, with populations producing honeydew, which encourages the growth of sooty mold (Capnodium spp. and related fungi), This can significantly reduce the aesthetic value and overall health of infested trees and shrubs.

By feeding on plant sap, Pulvinaria vitis weakens its hosts, potentially causing reduced vitality, dieback of branches, or even plant death in severe cases. Affected plants often exhibit reduced vigor and slower growth, making them more susceptible to secondary pests and diseases.

Symptom

Infested stems show dark brown scale insects and, in spring, white waxy ovisacs. Leaves may appear sticky from honeydew deposits, often leading to the development of black sooty mold.

Tree Species: Spindle, Birch, Peach, Oak, Quince, Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Rowan, Whitebeam, Ash, Maple, Alder, Plane, Currant, Rose, Cotoneaster, Poplar, Grape, Willow

Part of a plant- attacked: Leaf / Needle, Branch

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: No

Present in EU: Yes