Page 145 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

HEMISPHERICAL SCALE HEMISPHERICAL SCALE

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

COTTONY CUSHION SCALE COTTONY CUSHION SCALE
ON ACACIA

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- underneath prosoma 6.Thorax- body is oval COTTONY CUSHION SCALE
2.Eyes- underneath prosoma 7.Petiole- none
3.Head- attached to thorax w/stylet 8.Abdomen- attached to thorax region 6
4.Legs- 6 on crawlers 9.Color- various colors
5.Wings- wings on male only 10.Other- lives short life span
Life Cycle
Most of the armored scales have several generations per year, but most soft
scales have only one. Eggs of both hatch into tiny crawlers with legs. The
armored scale crawlers settle down the quickest, soft scale crawlers may move
around for several days. The life cycles vary greatly among the different kinds 4
of scales.
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
SCALE INSECTS Actual size 1/4 “
Scale insects are tiny; many are under 1/8 of an inch. They are a serious pest, attaching to plants and penetrating
th
deeply into the tissue with long sucking mouthparts. During the crawler stage, scale moves around on the plant. The adults
remain attached to the one spot throughout their adult life. Males are actually rarely seen since they are so small—it is the
females that are readily noticed. There are two basic types—those with hard armored scales to protect them from their
enemies, and those with soft bodies. The soft-bodied scales often excrete a powdery white waxy substance. There are
many scales; the following are some of the more prevalent pests, divided between the armored (hard) and soft types.
FLORIDA RED SCALE
The Florida Red Scale is a serious problem for citrus fruit. It attaches to branches, leaves, and the fruit itself. It is
an armored (hard) scale, often appearing as a spot on the fruit.
FALSE OLEANDER SCALE
Despite its name, it is a common scale in Florida and attaches not only to oleanders, but also to citrus and ivy. It is
also an armored (hard) scale, light brown to gray in color.
TEA SCALE
This armored scale attacks camellias and holly throughout the Southeast, and has spread to the West. It does infest
other plants, including tea, olives, and citrus. It thrives in warm weather, having several generations per year in Florida. The
Cycad Aulacaspis Scale and White Peach Scale are other armored scales causing problems in the state.
COTTONY CUSHION SCALE
This soft fluted scale first attacked the citrus industry in the late 1860’s. The industry was almost wiped out until the
Vedalia Beetle (similar to the Lady Bug) was introduced. The beetle has a great appetite for this scale, and it is now in check.
This reddish-brown scale also finds other plants as acceptable hosts.
HEMISPHERICAL SCALE
A soft scale, it creates large amounts of honeydew, which often causes the growth of a black fungus called sooty
mold. It commonly attacks holly. Green Scale, Florida Red Wax Scale, Pyriform Scale, and Palm Scale are other soft scales
causing problems in Florida.

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