White Wax Scale
|
White wax scale (Ceroplastes destructor) is a pest of citrus orchards and also infests many native and introduced shrubs, such as blackthorn, lillypilly, gardenia, pittosporum, persimmon and guava. Normally there is only a single generation each year. The larvae or " crawlers " emerge from the eggs beneath the parent scale mainly from November to January and settle along the midribs and veins of the leaves. About five or six weeks later they crawl back to the twigs and settle permanently in position and secrete the wax cover, increase in size and, about ten months later, lay eggs. Quantities of honeydew are excreted by these sap sucking insects and a black sooty mould fungus develops on this excretion where it falls on fruit and leaves. |
   |
mygarden.net.au - Add Your Link - Privacy Policy - site by Weblife Web Design |