A to Z of Pests

Armoured Scale Insects

Family Diaspidae

Appearance

• Adults – 2mm. They are dull grey or brown.

Lifecycle

• The female lays several hundred eggs and then dies.
• Young mobile nymphs hatch from eggs and search for a feeding site until they mature to adults.
• The length of their lifecycle varies with environmental conditions, with up to eight generations in one year.

Habits

• They can infest any part of the plant although areas close to leaf veins and undersides are preferred.
• Unlike soft scales and mealybugs, armoured scales do not produce honeydew.