Good morning, HOS. While on a walk in my garden this morning I noticed these odd silver scale looking things on one twig of my Macintosh apple. I just cut off the twig because it seemed to be the only one affected. But does anyone have any more info on what these are, if they're a serious threat and how to get rid of them?
Creepy ~ Do they mash like insects? Have heads, feet, or antenna? Or are they eggs? It may be a Mid-west pest …as it doesn’t resemble anything I’ve noticed ‘around here.’
It seems a coating of ‘spray oil’ with some dry weather might suffocate them… I’d haul a sample to an Extension Service Office for analysis, if you’ve any in Ohio. And please let us know what you learn 
Nope, no discernible head, legs or anything. They wouldn't mash like insects either. But I was able to crack one with my fingernail and it had yellowish-green guts. From an older insect book I looked at, they appear to be some kind of scale.
I just threw away the twig, but if I see them around again, I'll send them to my local extension office and post an update here.
I saw something really creepy like that last year. I didn't know what it was, so I killed it. Maybe not very sensitive of me.
It moved though. Does scale move away from you when you try to kill it?
John S
PDX OR
Yeah John, I basically did the same thing after observing them. They didn't move at all, but I did read that some scales move when they're in a juvenile stage, but are hardly mobile, or not mobile at all at their adult stage. I went back to the same apple tree I found them on and didn't see any others. I also didn't find any on my nearby currants or sea buckthorn. I'll still be keeping an eye out though and I'll post any discoveries I make along the way.
Such scales may be due to green larva or leaf eater larva.
Poured some wood ash on affected area . Keep doing for a week.
The scale will reduce automatically.
For more information please visit here.
I liked your post, Nelson, and I found it interesting, but I couldn't find the link.
John S
PDX OR
Here is the link http://extension.oregonstate.edu/garden ... ed-caution
I always try to find out natural methods to get rid of pests. I and my elk grove pest exterminator team working on natural insecticides and will soon come up with some new remedies.