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Photo#114265
Are these scale insects? - Gossyparia spuria

Are these scale insects? - Gossyparia spuria
Herring Run Park, Baltimore City County, Maryland, USA
May 31, 2007

Yes
This is an excellent specimen photo of European elm scales (Gossyparia spuria). These scales are a reddish brown color surrounded by a white, waxy fringe and will produce a blood-like red liquid when crushed. European elm scales spend the winter in bark crevices or at the bases of twigs inside their waxy covering. By the end of June the females begin to lay eggs that hatch in only a few hours. The eggs continue to hatch through the end of July. The young crawlers occupy the undersides of leaves along the midrib. Once the feeding site is established the nymphs remain there until the end of summer, at this stage they look much like mealybugs. Before the eaves are dropped in the fall, the scales migrate to branches to overwinter. Only one generation is produced per year. The scale causes injury by sucking out the nutrient rich sap. The scale causes an accumulation of a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts ants. Ants will sometimes tend to the scales, protecting them from predacious insects as they use the honeydew as a food source.

Could be
European Elm Scale. There don't seem to be any pictures on the guide.

 
That
would make sense given that this is an elm (either U. pumila or parvifolia).

Yes.
The ant tending them reinforces that:-) Can't help you with even a family, though, sorry.

 
No
biggie! These are the first I've ever seen. Odd creatures!

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