Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

5. Citrus red scale

5. Citrus red scale - Aonidiella aurantii Maskell. (Diaspididae: Hemiptera)

Damage

• It settles in large numbers on stem, branches, leaves and fruits and suck the cell sap.
• The infested plants become stunted, loose the vigour and gradually dry up.
Bionomics

• The female scale produces young one (crawlers) which moves for a short period, settle and cover with a white waxy secretion.
• It reaches sexual maturity in 10-15 weeks.
• There are several generations in a year.