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Latin Name: Ceroplastes cirripediformis
Common Name: Barnacle Scale
Latin Family Name: Coccidae
Other Names: Wax scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Possibly native to temperate climates in the U.S., and now found from California to Florida.
Biology:
The Wax scales in the genus Ceroplastes attack over 50 different ornamental and forest plants, including holly, pyracantha, juniper, hemlock, boxwood, gardenia, and others, including citrus. The visible scale is the female, which overwinters in this stage. In the spring hundreds of eggs are deposited within the scale, and these hatch to the crawler stage. This mobile stage will move to other parts of the plant. They eventually settle in after they molt and become sessile as well, covering themselves with layers of wax they produce. Males are virtually unknown for some wax scale species. There may be 2 or more generations per year.
Identification:
The wax
Latin Name: Nuculaspis californica
Common Name: Black Pineleaf Scale
Latin Family Name: Diaspididae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to North America, and distributed across the entire eastern half of the U.S. and into southern Canada, as well as in all states from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast. It also has been found in localized areas of mountains in northern Mexico and into British Columbia.
Biology:
This species feeds only on conifers, but attacks a wide variety of species of pines and fir trees. Infestations usually are localized, but now and then massive outbreaks occur that cover thousands of acres of forest. Severe infestations have the potential to seriously weaken or even kill host trees. In northern climates there is one generation each year and in warmer, southern regions there may be two generations. Like other scales the eggs are produced by the female under her protective
Latin Name: Saisettia oleae
Common Name: Black Scale
Latin Family Name: Coccidae
Other Names: Olive black scale, citrus black scale, brown olive scale, olive soft scale, Mediterranean black scale, olive scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Believed to be native to South Africa, but now found throughout the world in mild climates where susceptible plants grow. It is a particular pest of olive trees, but also attacks oleander, citrus, and some other forest and landscape trees and shrubs.
Biology:
Late instar nymphs overwinter on the stems of host plants, with the female developing in the spring and begins egg production. From 150 to over 1000 eggs may be produced within the scale covering. A second generation may occur with adult females producing eggs in the fall. Nymphs in the crawler stage then appear in June and July. After 2 to 3 weeks the crawlers become sessile, feeding at one point and beginning to form the
Latin Name: Coccus hesperidum
Common Name: Brown Soft Scale
Latin Family Name: Coccidae
Other Names: Brown soft scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Appears to be native to the Southeast United States.
Biology:
This scale has been found infesting hundreds of different ornamental plants, with ferns a particular favored host, and greenhouses commonly infested. It is the most common scale insect infesting interior plants, where they are found along stems, veins of leaves, and on developing buds and flowers. In heavy infestations entire areas of the stems may be covered, and this level of feeding can seriously reduce plant health, causing wilting but less often the actual death of the plant. Large quantities of honeydew support the growth of black sooty mold. The scale completes development to the adult stage in 60 days or less, and in warm conditions there can be up to 7 generations in a year. All stages
Latin Name: Diaspis echinocacti
Common Name: Cactus Scale
Latin Family Name: Diaspididae
Other Names: Prickly pear scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Probably native to North America, and spread to other parts of the world on exported plant parts.
Biology:
Widespread in North America on native and imported cactus and succulents, including ornamental plants such as jade plants. Adult females overwinter, producing eggs in the spring under their scale covering. Eggs hatch to the mobile crawler stage, which does not feed but which settles down to the sessile stage within hours or a few days and molts to the second instar stage, which begins to form the wax shell.
Identification:
A relatively small, white, flattened armored scale that has a circular shape and a dark spot in the center of the top. Similar to some other armored scales, such as the cycad or Manzanita scales, but found only on
Latin Name: Eulecanium cerasorum
Common Name: Calico Scale
Latin Family Name: Coccidae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Uncertain, as some references indicate it is a native species while others indicate it entered the U.S. in San Francisco in the early 1900’s, and from there spread throughout the U.S. Now an extremely common pest of ornamental trees and shrubs, including liquidamber, elm, magnolia, locust, crabapple, maple, pyracantha, and all stone fruit trees such as peach, apricot, and plum.
Biology:
Typical scale biology with mature females overwintering on the host plant, producing eggs beneath their wax shell in the spring, with first instar crawlers emerging in mid to late spring. The crawlers are mobile and move to the leaves to feed on them during the summer. Prior to molting to the second instar they move back down to tender stems where they become sessile and create the wax shell over
Latin Name: Aonidiella aurantii
Common Name: California Red Scale
Latin Family Name: Diaspididae
Other Names: Citrus Red Scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Uncertain, but currently it is found worldwide in citrus growing regions. It is a major pest concern in the citrus industry in California, and in other parts of the world has been found infesting almond, pear, plum, and roses.
Biology:
The life cycle differs slightly from typical scales in that the female may give birth to living young, rather than laying eggs beneath her wax shell, or may produce eggs beneath her wax covering. The crawlers emerge from the female and move about on the tree, or may be dispersed to other trees with wind, on birds, or on people working with the trees. After the first molt the second instars become sessile, forming a wax covering over themselves and remaining on that site on the plant. They may feed on stems, leaves,
Latin Name: Dactylopiidae
Common Name: Cochineal Scales
Latin Family Name: Dactylopiidae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Latin America and the southwest United States. Where the host cacti have been introduced to other countries the scale is now present as well, such as Spain and Australia.
Biology:
The scale infests cacti in the genus Opuntia, and can be seen as cottony white masses on the flat pads of the cactus. When smashed they emit a purple or reddish fluid which traditionally was used by native Americans for making red dyes. The female produces living nymphs which move to new feeding locations on the plant and begin to exude their white wax filaments. While still in the nymph stage the insects may allow the wind to carry them to other plants, where eventually they settle into a feeding position and complete their development. The dye, still harvested for commercial uses, is referred to variously
Latin Name: Icerya purchasi
Common Name: Cottony Cushion Scale
Latin Family Name: Margarodidae
Other Names: Australian mealybug, fluted scale
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to Australia, and first found in the U.S. in California around 1868 as a hitchhiker on acacia plants. Within 10 years it was a major pest on citrus in the west, and now is found worldwide on many kinds of plants. Because of the serious economic nature of this pest a major effort was made to find natural controls, leading to the discovery of Vedalia ladybird beetles that effectively preyed on it in California. When these predatory beetles were later sent to Florida the shipment included some of the scales, inadvertently introducing the pest to that state and its citrus industry. It is now found along the southern states from California to North Carolina.
Biology:
In addition to its severe pest status on citrus, this scale also
Latin Name: Pulvinaria innumerabilis
Common Name: Cottony Maple Scale
Latin Family Name: Coccidae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to eastern North America, but now found throughout the U.S.
Biology:
The scales feed on many kinds of maples and boxelder, as well as elms, birch, poplar, willow, and other trees. In western states it is a minor pest of vineyards, with most of the damage due to the honeydew and resulting sooty mold that may damage fruit. Early instars overwinter, developing to the adult female in late spring. Eggs are produced and hatch in early summer, with the mobile crawler stage moving to leaves to feed on the lower surfaces for the rest of the growing season. They then move back to small twigs prior to leaf-drop and settle in there to spend the winter in the next instar stages.
Identification:
The adult female is about 1/8 inch long, with a flattened brownish wax shell. During