Scale insects - help and advice

[Paul mabbott]

I'm trying to learn more about scale insects this year (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Coccoidea) - they're a major prey source for ladybirds and other predatory insects!



Any clues to what this recent one is? Or know any keys or other books?

[Toby]

this must be about the only book on the subject - bargain at £175 !

Armored Scale Insects - Elsevier

probably some gardening books have sections on these pests.

[Paul mabbott]

Perhaps have to wait until next year ... and that's only volume 4 ....

Originally Posted by Toby

this must be about the only book on the subject - bargain at £175 !

Armored Scale Insects - Elsevier

probably some gardening books have sections on these pests.

[Toby]

did you find out this species ?- I spotted one by accident whilst shooting an Ichneumon:

Richmond Pk TQ1972, on a young Lime sapling I think:

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I'm trying to learn more about scale insects this year (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Coccoidea) - they're a major prey source for ladybirds and other predatory insects!

Any clues to what this recent one is? Or know any keys or other books?

Yes but the little blighters consistantly attack some of my carnivorous plants

They certainly are intriguing, I would love to see the males or the walking stages of the females!

[nightshade]

I have often seen them but info even on the net is sparse heres one site just for interest

http://www.fcla.edu/FlaEnt/fe88p482.pdf

[ginger71]

Have a look at the following - it is a good place to start on scale insects;

Dolling W.R., (1991) The Hemiptera. Oxford University Press.

If you can get hold of it;

Newstead R. (1901 - 1903) Monograph of British Coccidae (2 volumes) Ray Society, London.
A good reference butthe nomenclature may be out, there is differing opinions on the number of families of scle insects)

Paul

[Paul mabbott]

I think I know what the other scale was - if I manage to upload the picture, I'll explain!

In the meantime, on urban lime trees today, another scale insect:

[Paul mabbott]

I think I know what the other scale was - if I manage to upload the picture, I'll explain!

In the meantime, on urban lime trees today, another scale insect:

[Paul mabbott]

Returning to the original post - the scale that I didn't recognise - I think it's clear that these:



are the same scales but have developed a characteristic 'cotton wool' excretion below them. This is Pulvinaria regalis the 'horse chestnut scale' (although it can infest most British trees). Scales have some interesting life histories - in these pictures we have the mature females which are now dead but their scales and the 'woolly' excretion are protecting the eggs and developing young. When the young develop they will move up the tree to overwinter. The males are not scaled and are very small - they have only one brief function in life ...

[asheleaf]

there are thousands of these on two maples in the garden. They are all over the trunk and the branches. Looks like the trees have a nasty rash! All but four of them were the same as this photo, with the white egg mass under them. I also spotted a pine ladybird wandering amongst them. I guess he's not going to go hungry!

Cheers, Ashe

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I'm trying to learn more about scale insects this year (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Coccoidea) - they're a major prey source for ladybirds and other predatory insects!
Any clues to what this recent one is? Or know any keys or other books?

Paul, have you learnt any more? Since you started this thread and having not heard of them before I have been looking for them.

I have now seen hundreds on lime thanks to a friend who told me where to look.

Yesterday I found some for myself on Holly. I will go back to get a picture today.

They are smaller - only 2-3mm long.

Do you (or anyone please) know if they are likely to be the same sp? Are there more than one species? Perhaps they populate other tress as well?

Thanks

Richard

[Paul mabbott]

There are a lot of different scales: Pulvinaria regalis is the largest and the only British one producing the 'cotton wool': others tend to be flat and difficult to see because they fasten down on to leaves. There are different sorts - felted scales, oyster scales &c depedning on whether they are soft or hard ... but, really, no I haven't found anything comprehensive about British ladyirds.

Originally Posted by CloudedYellow

Paul, have you learnt any more? Since you started this thread and having not heard of them before I have been looking for them.

I have now seen hundreds on lime thanks to a friend who told me where to look.

Yesterday I found some for myself on Holly. I will go back to get a picture today.

They are smaller - only 2-3mm long.

Do you (or anyone please) know if they are likely to be the same sp? Are there more than one species? Perhaps they populate other tress as well?

Thanks

Richard

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

There are a lot of different scales: Pulvinaria regalis is the largest and the only British one producing the 'cotton wool': others tend to be flat and difficult to see because they fasten down on to leaves. There are different sorts - felted scales, oyster scales &c depedning on whether they are soft or hard ... but, really, no I haven't found anything comprehensive about British ladyirds.

Well thanks anyway. These are the ones I found on Holly



Richard