Scale
Insects
Scale insects belong to the insect order Homoptera. They have
a piercing-sucking mouth-type and can be serious pests of nursery
and landscape plants by reducing plant vigor, reducing the aesthetic
value and even lead to the death of the host. In general, scales
attach themselves to the host plant, insert their feeding stylets
into the vascular system for feeding,, and then cover themselves
with a waxy covering that often is impermeable to most chemical
insecticides. Management of many scale species is often best achieved
with the use of horticultural oils.
Scale insects are categorized into different groupings that include:
- the armored or hard scales (Diaspididae)
- the soft scales (Coccidae)
- the pit-making scales (Asterolecaniidae)
- the Eriococcid scales (Eriococcidae)
Depending on the species involved, scale insects can be found feeding
on the foliage, stems, branches or trunk of the host plant. Some,
such as the soft scales and certain Eriococcids, can produce copious
amounts of honeydew that leads to the build up of unsightly sooty
mold.
Scale
insects index:
Pine Needle Scale
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