cottony-cushion scale
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/kot"n ee koosh"euhn/a scale insect, Icerya purchasi, native to Australia, now a common pest in the citrus-growing regions of California.[1885-90]
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Scale insect (Icerya purchasi, order Homoptera) that is a pest especially of California citrus trees.The adult lays bright red eggs in a distinctive large white mass that juts out from a twig. Distributed worldwide, cottony-cushion scale is found on many other plants, including acacia, pittosporum, and willow. Australian ladybird beetles (see ladybug), a natural enemy, have been imported to keep it from destroying the California citrus industry.
Cottony-cushion scales (Icerya purchasi, magnified)Robert C. HermesThe National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers* * *
▪ insect(Icerya purchasi), a scale insect pest (order Homoptera), especially of California citrus trees. The adult lays bright red eggs in a distinctive large white mass that juts out from a twig. In summer the eggs hatch in a few days; in winter several months are required.The insect, worldwide in distribution, is found on many plants, including acacia, pittosporum, and willow. It is particularly destructive to citrus trees and once threatened the southern California citrus industry. Imported Australian ladybird beetles, a natural enemy, brought the scale under control in California in a short time.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
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cottony-cushion scale — ˈ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun : a scale (Icerya purchasi) introduced into the United States from Australia that infests citrus and other plants see vedalia * * * /kot n ee koosh euhn/ a scale insect, Icerya purchasi, native to Australia, now a… … Useful english dictionary
cottony-cushion scale — noun Date: 1886 a scale insect (Icerya purchasi) introduced into the United States from Australia that infests citrus and other plants … New Collegiate Dictionary
cottony-cushion scale — /ˌkɒtəni ˈkʊʃən ˌskeɪl/ (say .kotuhnee kooshuhn .skayl) noun a sap sucking scale insect which infests citrus plants … Australian English dictionary
Scale insect — Temporal range: Lower Cretaceous–recent … Wikipedia
scale insect — any of numerous small, plant sucking homopterous insects of the superfamily Coccoidea, the males of which are winged and the females wingless, often covered by a waxy secretion resembling scales. [1830 40] * * * Any member of several families of… … Universalium
scale — scale1 scaleless, adj. scalelike, adj. /skayl/, n., v., scaled, scaling. n. 1. Zool. a. one of the thin, flat, horny plates forming the covering of certain animals, as snakes, lizards, and pangolins. b. one of the hard, b … Universalium
white scale — noun : any of various white or pale scales: as a. : an oleander scale (Aspidiotus hederae) b. : cottony cushion scale c. : rose scale … Useful english dictionary
fluted scale — noun : cottony cushion scale … Useful english dictionary
Icerya purchasi — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum … Wikipedia
Biological pest control — Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases) that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms. It can be an important component of… … Wikipedia
