Diaspididae

Diaspididae is the largest family of scale insects with over 2650 described species in around 400 genera. As with all scale insects, the female produces a waxy protective scale beneath which it feeds on its host plant. Diaspidid scales are far more substantial than those of most other families, incorporating the exuviae from the first two nymphal instars and sometimes faecal matter and fragments of the host plant. These can be complex and extremely waterproof structures rather resembling a suit of armor. For this reason these insects are commonly referred to as armored scale insects. As it is so robust and firmly attached to the host plant, the scale often persists long after the insect has died.

Some African Diaspididae are attended by ants of genus Melissotarsus. The ants appear to consume the armored scales because Diaspididae are completely naked when ant-attended; the ant nest itself remains completely hidden under the bark of the tree.

Selected species

Well-known species include:

Abgrallaspis cyanophylli, the cyanophyllum scale

Aonidiella aurantii, the California red scale

Aonidomytilus crookiae the St. John's Wort Scale

Aulacaspis yasumatsui, the cycad aulacaspis scale

Carulaspis minima, the minute cypress scale

Diaspidiotus perniciosus, the San Jose scale

Hemiberlesia lataniae, the latania or palm scale

Lepidosaphes beckii, the citrus mussel scale

Lepidosaphes ulmi, the oystershell scale

Quadraspidiotus juglansregiae, the walnut scale

Genera

References

External links

Diaspididae at ScaleNet

Aulacaspis yasumatsui, cycad aulacaspis scale

Comstockiella sabalis, palmetto scale

Diaspis boisduvalii, boisduval scale

Fiorinia theae, tea scale

Ischnaspis longirostris, black thread scale

Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli, false oleander scale

Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, white peach scale

Scale insects

Hemiptera families

Neococcoids