Icerya purchasi is an important pest on nursery stock in northern european countries.

In(sub)tropical regions it occurs outside on several trees and shrubs.

It is easily recognized at its white ovisac, having ridges leghthwise along it.

Decreased vitality and defoliation result from feeding of this scale. Most damage occurs from the feeding of the early immature instars of the scale on the leaves, where they settle in rows along the midrib and veins and on the smaller twigs.

All instars produce a lot of honeydew, in which the black sooty mold fungus will start growing, giving the plants an ugly appearance.

Icerya

Icerya purchasi

characteristics: an adult female of Icerya is red-brown coloured, about 5 mm. long; the body is partially or entirely covered with yellowish or white wax; an importante feature is the large ovisac, the ovisac contains about 1000 red eggs, newly hatched nymphs are bright red, all instars produces a lot of honeydew, hanging down from the scales in threads

natural enemies: Rodolia cardinalis

hosts: Albizia, Citrus, Pittosporum, Mimosa

natural enemies

Rodolia