Question
My Golden Euonymous are covered in what appears to be a white in color mite.I am experiencing a loss of leaves and the limbs and stems appear to be drying up and dying as well.This was confined to one plant but now i am seeing the white specs on adjacent shrubbery.What could be the cause, And is there a cure?

Answer
Sounds like the Euonymus scale. see web link for pictures. http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/eonscale.htm

The white coverings of males are distinctly smaller and narrower. When abundant, these armored scales can completely encrust twigs and leaves of Euonymus, pachysandra and bittersweet. They use their piercing- sucking mouthparts to feed on sap. Moderately to heavily infested plants grow very slowly, if at all, and yellow spots may appear on the foliage. Heavy infestations can cause branch dieback and may even kill some plants.

Euonymus scale is often overlooked until it has caused serious damage. One symptom of a light attack is the occurrence of yellowish or whitish spots on the leaves. The female scales are usually found along the stems and leaf veins of the host plant. At times, however, the whole plant is "whitened" by the covers of the smaller male scales. When this occurs, the plants leaves may drop and sometimes a normally green plant becomes bare by midsummer. Heavily infested plants are usually killed if not treated. Plants growing close to buildings seem to be damaged more than those growing where there is free air circulation.

These can be controlled with the use of an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This product is applied to the soil around the plant and the roots transport it to the twigs and leaves, And when the scale sucks the plant juices it it killed. The Bayer product should protect the plant for the whole season, Check with your local nursery for this product. Here is a web link to more information on Bayer Advanced. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html