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Cottony cushion scale

Icerya purchasi

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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-37.9098, 145.354

Field Notes

Description:

White waxy fluted egg case with a female scale insect attached to the branch in front (pink/blue tinted). She stays there sucking plant juice until her offspring are released. The egg case has just split to release the tiny red nymphs which run in all directions. A ladybird (ladybug) was found inside the case. It looks like Rodolia cardinalis which preys on these creatures.

Habitat:

On acacia in dense undergrowth in tall eucalyptus forest.

Notes:

The pest that launched a revolution in pest control methods...
http://gardenbees.com/biological%20control/revolution.htm

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/fruit/cottony_cushion_scale.htm

Reference Links:

Scale insect, cottony cushion scale - Icerya purchasi Maskell

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Mark Ridgway
Thanks a lot Mary, Satyen, Eulalia. Sorry it's such a pest overseas :)
MaryEvans2
One amazing spot and wonderful information.
Wild Things
Thanks for sharing this one Argy. Amazing notes. Any idea where I can get some assassin bugs on lease? :-)
eulalia rubio
We have done the same way: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7915811 (Icerya purchasi) http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7908233 (Cardinal ladybird) For me it was an interesting research because I did not know these animals and gradually I came to the micro world of them.
Mark Ridgway
thanks for the comments everyone - you've reminded me I haven't finished this one
Mark Ridgway
Oh wow martinl. Thanks so much for that. Had no idea it was all going as normal. I'll have to read more. I'm sure the ladybird is not a helping midwife however.
MartinL
Nice sighting argybee. This cotton cushion scale insect is female and grows a large waxy egg container underneath herself. These have just hatched and are now scattering. Hatchlings of hemipterans are called runners and often stay together for protection in numbers until they get larger. I am not entirely sure that the adult is healthy but may have been damaged by some undetermined factor. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7889891
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 18, 2012

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