Pitmaking Pittosporum Scale – Asterolecanium arabidis

Pitmaking Pittosporum Scale – Asterolecaniumarabidis Common Name: PitmakingPittosporum Scale Latin Name: Asterolecaniumarabidis Appearance: These scales are round to oval and immovable, except when the first instars are just born (crawlers). Most species’ mature pit scales are 1/10 to 1/20 inch in diameter. Pittosporum pit scale, including its peripheral wax fringe, can reach lengths up to 1/5 inch. The pit scales might be brown, gold, green, tan, yellow, or pale. Their damage, the circular depressions, is generally the most distinguishing trait (pits). Territory: Throughout in the world Damages caused by Pittosporum Scale: Joshua tree foliage becomes discoloured and pitted due to agave pit scale and large pit scale. In general, these scales are not plentiful and are not serious pests. Pittosporum pit scale causes twigs to grow twisted and swollen, leaving ring-shaped depressions in the bark. The scale frequently congregates on the developing tips, where plant deformation is so severe that their eating obliterates the individual pits. Infested leaves may be smaller than usual, and twigs may perish. Life history and habits: Pit scales grow through three phases of development: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs resemble adults in appearance but are smaller and have less wax in species that discharge wax. Crawlers’ scales remain fixed in the same position for the remainder of their life after they settle to eat. They have one generation each year for the species with well-known biology.