Coconino National Forest and NAU’s School of Forestry are working together to solve a threat to softwood trees on the forest as well as commercial and residential neighborhoods. Oystershell Scale or OSS has spread at an alarming rate over the past several years. A regional survey conducted by NAU found that OSS is widespread in lower elevation aspen stands throughout forested areas of the Coconino National Forest above Mogollon Rim. Host plants are injured by the scale insect when it removes plant fluid with its piercing-sucking mouthparts, eventually encrusting and ultimately killing the host tree. Officials says they’re now exploring potential management strategies.
