We are pleased to announce a new article on Featured Creatures!
Take a sneak peek with this excerpt from the article: The black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier, 1791) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) (Fig. 1) is an important pest of citrus and olive trees. Originally from South Africa, this scale is now distributed worldwide. In Florida, black scale is found on citrus (Citrus spp.), cultivated olive (Olea europaea L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), and many popular landscape plants. It is likely that black scale, like many invasive pests, was imported to the United States on infested nursery plants. Based on their small size and the unique life history of scale insects, these insects are difficult to detect and control.
Figure 1. Adult female black scales, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) on cultivated olive (Olea europaea L.). Photograph by Lyle Buss, University of Florida.