Armoured scale insects

Family Diaspididae

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.