bug id please, shield bug?

[froggy]

Just noticed these on my japanese maple, i thought they were insect eggs at first then i saw one moving around. What are they and what is the white substance below them, are they feeding on the tree and if so will they damage it, or are they just in a metamorphosis state.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Froggy,

These are Scale Insects. (family Coccidae) The white substance is a waxy-secretion, and possibly to do with reproduction or signifying it's female.

Take care,

Jason

[Hedera]

These Scale insects will suck the acer's juices and if left to multiply will kill it. They are female ones which don't move about but produce hundreds of eggs. Just rub them off with some wet kitchen paper or an old glove.

[froggy]

Thank you for the replies, i have now removed them as there were quite a few of them and the tree was only small and would have been damaged eventually.