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Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images
[R]Biology
- This highlypolyphagous scale insect attacks olive, Citrus fruits, plum and various trees, shrubs and low-growing plants: acacia, carob (Ceratonia), mulberry (Morus), ivy (Helix), oleander (Nerium), palm (Phoenix) (*) , etc.
- Adults: reproduction is exual or parthenogenetic. The female lays about 150 yellow eggs in about 5 to 12 days; from 4 to 30 eggs each day.
- Nymph: between the newly emerged, mobile nymph and the imaginal moult about 40 to 50 days are required.
[R]Life Cycle
- This scale insect usually has three generations per year. This corresponds to three waves of emergence of mobile nymphs, which can be assigned to succeeding generations. Individuals of all ages coexist on the same plant.
- Winter is normally passed as young female or older nymph, but younger nymphs may also overwinter, becoming active again later in the spring.
The first generation starts in March-April; males are numerous. Mobile nymphs then move towards sheltered areas of the tree, settling preferably on the underside of foliage. This generation develops in 8 to 9 weeks.
A second generation then occurs, taking a similar amount of time to develop. The third generation commences in September-October and is maintained for 6 months, until the end of winter.
[R]Damage
The damage caused by this piercing and sucking insect consists of weakening of the plant, leaf fall, drying of shoots and the deformation of fruits, the latter being particularly serious in the case of table olives(*) .
Honeydew favours the development of sooty moulds and attracts ants and other insects.
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