Written by Gurreet Brar, UCCE Farm Advisor (Nut Crops), Fresno & Madera Counties This summer we observed many cases of lower branch dieback in almond trees (like the one shown in picture). In many cases these symptoms were found to be associated with high scale populations. Diagnosis of such branches revealed that San Jose Scale and Walnut Scale caused lesions beneath the bark resulting in death of the tissue. These scales suck plant juices from the inner bark by inserting their mouthparts into twigs and injecting a toxin. When the populations become high enough, the numerous lesions may coalesce and cause the whole branch to die. Uncontrolled populations can kill branches within 1-3 years. San Jose Scale can be found on most, if not all, almond varieties. Walnut scale seems to like Monterey variety more than the others.