Subject: Chinese Wax Scale found when cutting down last year’s sunflower stalks.
Geographic location of the bug: Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California
Date: 03/20/2021
Time: 02:49 AM EDT
Several weeks ago, Daniel discovered these Scale Insects on the dried stalks of sunflowers and he left them in the front yard until he had an opportunity to identify them on the internet. A visit to Alamy revealed the genus name Ceroplastes, and searching that on BugGuide revealed the Chinese Wax Scale. According to BugGuide: “eggs laid in chamber under body of adult” and “Non native. Introduced from Asia.” Daniel threw them into the green recycle bin for garden materials after taking the image because he noticed the dreaded Argentine Ants taking an interest in the Scale and he suspects the Ants help to distribute the Scale nymphs to a new food plant.
Haven’t noticed this one yet. I suppose it is another one of those unfathomable scale insects. Not too worried about it.
It is a pleasure and joy that you are still posting. I wish i was more interested in Diptera, because we are having a fiesta of various midges and gnats. Rough-wing swallows are here.
“Aerial Plankton”
Best always.
This particular Scale is new in Daniel’s garden and it hasn’t been seen on any other plants yet.
Haven’t noticed this one yet. I suppose it is another one of those unfathomable scale insects. Not too worried about it.
It is a pleasure and joy that you are still posting. I wish i was more interested in Diptera, because we are having a fiesta of various midges and gnats. Rough-wing swallows are here.
“Aerial Plankton”
Best always.