A bit of scale in the garden

14 years ago

I know it's normal to get a little bit of scale in the garden, but isn't this stretching it a bit far?

{{gwi:520219}}

Sorry, I just couldn't resist the dreadful pun. Must be too much christmas cheer. Mind you, this diamond python looks like it has been partaking as well. I've no idea what it has just eaten - a good sized snack whatever it was and I must have just missed it - it isn't hissing at me, it is trying to spit out a bit of stick - but I just hope it wasn't someone's christmas present.

Now it has successfully used my pup of Neo. 'Chirripo' to dislodge the stick from its teeth and is looking for a way back out of my yard through the chain-wire fence, but it keeps stopping to have a good look at the mesh then each time it moves on without even trying to go through. It quite clearly knows that it won't fit through with that nice big meal on board. Clever snakey! I guess I'll have it curled up somewhere for a few days.

{{gwi:520221}}

And .... I just had to try and get a pic of it with its tongue sticking out. No broms in this shot to give me an excuse for posting it, but it is the best of about thirty. Still not great, but hey, you can sort-of see the tongue blurring into action. Boy does it move fast! Bye-bye snakey.

{{gwi:520222}}

Cheers, Paul

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Comments (10)

User
14 years ago
If I saw that thing you'd hafta pry me off the top limb of my Schizolobium.
splinter1804
14 years ago
Hi Paul,

It's great to see a Python in the yard isn't it? It looks like he's just finished his Christmas dinner and was maybe using the stick as a toothpick, but why didn't you get it out of his mouth for him?

For our overseas friends, they are non-venomous and won't hurt you unless you're a chook, frog, egg, rat etc.

You could have at least given him a leg up over the fence Paul, or are you a "Fraidy Cat"?

All the best, Nev.
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I'd like to know what the plants are (some are more susceptible to scale) , what type of scale it was, how big the plants are ... and what you are now going to put them amongst...and what you've been treating them with... but.. by way of a general answer(s) 1. The only way to keep those plants, and the rest of the garden safe, is to keep on top of the scale. You need to know a bit about their life-cycle. They can reproduce very fast and at first stage they are mobile and called "crawlers" and they go off looking for a nice juicy spot to anchor themselves. At this stage there are thousands of them - almost invisible to the naked eye - but they are at their most vulnerable. Light chemical sprays that reach all parts of the plant, will usually do the trick. After that stage they begin to settle and may be oval or flat or raised but often simply green or whitish or opaque and it is really hard to detect them unless you know what you are searching for. At this stage also they can be easily killed by chemical treatment, even by gently dislodging them with a cotton bud. Once they anchor, they set that hard shell and at that stage they are harder to treat. Type of treatment depends on the plant, and where it is - oil based treatments "drown" the insect but can cause burning to leaves in outside areas unless used carefully. Also some folk don't like using pesticides inside the house. But at this stage the scale are pretty "immobile" so can also be removed manually with a toothbrush or a toothpick, just very gently popping them off the plant. Anyway you know what to look for and to keep up the inspections every few days and even so, the treatments every 2 weeks at least for say 2 months, to make sure you have got them as they have a very fast reproductive cycle and the eggs can then still remain ready to hatch. The second thing is to try to keep your newly planted out things a little apart from other plants so there is no "bridge" (leaf to leaf) for the scale - or ants - to climb over while you are eradicating the scale. You must get on top of the ants, as they are attracted by the honey-dew that the scale excrete, and they actually "farm" the scale and move them around plants. If you don't object to more chemical help, dust the plants and the immediate soil with an ant-killer (not a spray) - I have found Hortico Ant & Roach dust very fast and efficient at killing ants on the surface. Depending on the type of plant, you could also try smearing vaseline (petroleum jelly) on the trunk of the plant from ground level to a few inches up - this also deters ants from trying to climb into the stems. 2. Yes, the ants do add to the problem. If you were only keeping the existing plants, then I would say you should treat for the ant infestation also and usually you can do it by (a) plunging the pots in a bucket of water to above soil level for say 15 mins till all air-bubbles come out, and the ants will usually evacuate...
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paul_t23
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Nev,

Me a "Fraidy Cat"? Nah, I just didn't want to stress it out by picking her/him up with a big meal on board. It's probably just the regular neighbourhood one that sends the sulphur-crested cockatoos into hysterics every time it suns itself on someone's roof. It also seems to shed its skin every year in the next-door neighbour's Wisteria, so it knows its way around. Here it is a few minutes ago, after spending the night in the yard ..
{{gwi:520224}}
.... having spent the night wrapped around my nice warm compost heap. What a clever snake! Christmas dinner should be digesting nicely.

I suspect that they know their way around their home range pretty well. I used to get a frantic call from my mate in neighbouring Bundeena about once every six months to come and get a big one out of his pidgeon cage. I'd go and catch it and let it go several kilometres away in the national park. This went on for quite a few years and I let it go in quite a few different places, but around six months later every time, snake in pidgeon cage again. I'm sure it was the same one. Like most animals, I reckon that there is probably a lot more to them than us humans think. Cheers, Paul
LisaCLV
14 years ago
Now there's something I've never thought about-- snakes getting sticks lodged in their gullets. Good thing it wasn't a long one, or he'd have to walk on tiptoes!
brom_adorer
14 years ago
And here was I thinking we were going to get advise on Scale management! he he.
Great pics Paul. I've only ever seen one up close, and I kept checking on it while I was gardening, just to make sure it stayed put.
Gonzer, do you get seed on your Schizolobium? I've been chasing some for awhile. I don't know the chances of getting it into Aussie though?
Lisa, trying to imagine snake on tippy toes! Like when you try to walk in a sleeping bag. he he.
BA
paul_t23
Original Author
14 years ago
Lisa, what are you doing to poor Gonzer! Mind you, they ARE very good at climbing trees, possibly even Schizolobium ....
kerry_t_australia
14 years ago
Ha ha! Your clever Monty is a real beauty, Paul - terrific photos too.
Good on you for relocating your mate's Monty in the national park, albeit temporarily. I agree they are amazing, habitual creatures, with astute territorial instincts.

In foreign territory, I think they are very fond of climbing Schizolobium and stirring its close relative Schizophrenia...

K :)
rickta66
14 years ago
Paul,

He is much nicer than the snakes in my yard, I've seen a few Eastern Browns - they dissapear quickly amongst the Broms and mulch which causes me to dissappear for a while as well.

Cheers,

Rick
paul_t23
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Rick,

There's a few Eastern Browns in the bush around here but luckily I've never seen them in the yard - nasty, maniacal, toxic sods that they are. If I did, I'd disappear for a while too. Hmmm, they don't spend so much time in the trees .... maybe Gonzer's Schizolobium is a good idea after all!

Cheers, Paul
unprofessional
14 years ago
Beautiful snake. They're very rare, here in the states; true diamonds go for about $600 per baby.

A bit of scale in the garden

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A bit of scale in the garden

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splinter1804

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