Pest identification
What's eating my flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Aphids
Signs: Distorted, sticky shoot tips in spring; green or black clusters; sooty mould on leaves below
Control: Strong water jet; insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds; reduce nitrogen feeding
Japanese beetle
Signs: Petals and foliage skeletonised; adults congregate on flowers in June–July
Control: Hand-pick at dawn; neem oil spray; avoid pheromone traps near the plant
Scale insects (San Jose scale)
Signs: Grey encrusted bumps on stems and branches; bark dieback in heavy infestations
Control: Horticultural oil spray in late winter (dormant); prune out and bin heavily scaled stems
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippled leaves; webbing on undersides in drought conditions
Control: Mist foliage; insecticidal soap; predatory mites
Keep flowering quince 'texas scarlet' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats chinese flowering quince — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common flowering quince 'texas scarlet' problems & fixes
- Flowering Quince 'Texas Scarlet' watering schedule
- Flowering Quince 'Texas Scarlet' light requirements
- Full flowering quince 'texas scarlet' care guide
Flowering Quince 'Texas Scarlet' pests — FAQ
What is eating my flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Flowering Quince 'Texas Scarlet' is attacked by aphids in spring, scale insects on older wood, and spider mites in hot dry summers. Japanese beetles can devour flowers. Codling moth and leaf rollers sometimes appear. Birds eat the fruit but rarely cause harm. Aphids on new spring growth are the most consistently seen pest.
How do I get rid of aphids on flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Distorted, sticky shoot tips in spring; green or black clusters; sooty mould on leaves below Strong water jet; insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds; reduce nitrogen feeding
How do I get rid of japanese beetle on flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Petals and foliage skeletonised; adults congregate on flowers in June–July Hand-pick at dawn; neem oil spray; avoid pheromone traps near the plant
How do I get rid of scale insects (san jose scale) on flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Grey encrusted bumps on stems and branches; bark dieback in heavy infestations Horticultural oil spray in late winter (dormant); prune out and bin heavily scaled stems
How do I get rid of spider mites on flowering quince 'texas scarlet'?
Pale stippled leaves; webbing on undersides in drought conditions Mist foliage; insecticidal soap; predatory mites