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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Small Orange Bug on Citrus might be Cottony Cushion Scale

Posted by bugman February 24th, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Categories

Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree Hoppers

small orange bug
Location: Southern California
February 22, 2012 11:41 am
This guy came off a citrus tree in Southern California and is about 1mm in length. Other specimens from the same tree were greenish brown in color covered with a soot much like a mealy bug. I have this one under a microscope with shots top and bottom.
Signature: R. Japp

citrus bug rjapp 300x250 Small Orange Bug on Citrus might be Cottony Cushion Scale

Unknown Citrus Bug

Dear R. Japp,
While we do not at this time know what this orange bug is that you found on your citrus tree, we don’t believe it to be a beneficial insect.  We will take a bit more time to research this identification.

citrus bug rjapp 2 300x226 Small Orange Bug on Citrus might be Cottony Cushion Scale

Unknown Citrus Bug

Karl poses a possible identification
Hi Daniel and R. Japp:
I am treading into unfamiliar territory here, but to me this looks a lot like an early instar Cottony Cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi). If that is the correct identification, it is considered a serious pest of citrus crops so there is a fair amount of information available on the internet. For example, you could check out this publication from the University of Arizona College of Agriculture, or this one from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Here is a link to another set of photos that look quite similar. Although the topside colors are a little darker in this set, the black legs and antennae are apparently a key diagnostic feature for the species. The origin of this insect seems uncertain, possibly Australia, but it has now become global, living wherever citrus crops are grown. Regards. Karl

 

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Comments 1

  1. Cesar Crash wrote:

    While searching for other creatures, I found this page http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/ScaleKeys/ScaleFamilies/key/Scale%20Families/Media/Html/ScaleFamilies/SelectFamilyFSet.html and it reminded me of this post. Now I see that Karl provided an ID, but I’m sending this link, because it seems to be a good source to identify these insects.

    Posted 11 Apr 2012 at 7:19 pm

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