Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Lepidosaphes ulmi - Oystershell Scale

Lepidosaphes ulmi Lepidosaphes ulmi Lepidosaphes ulmi armored scale on dogwood - Lepidosaphes ulmi many more armored scales on dogwood - Lepidosaphes ulmi Oystershell Scales - Lepidosaphes ulmi
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Sternorrhyncha (Plant-parasitic Hemipterans)
Superfamily Coccoidea (Scales and Mealybugs)
Family Diaspididae (Armored Scale Insects)
Genus Lepidosaphes
Species ulmi (Oystershell Scale)
Other Common Names
[Apple] Mussel Scale
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lepidosaphes ulmi Linnaeus, 1758
Explanation of Names
The common name refers to its appearance; the scale looks like an oyster or mussel.
Range
Throught the continent and widespread throughout the world. More abundant in northern states.
Food
They feed on over 150 species of host plants of about 13 families
Remarks
They can kill branches or even entire trees.
An introduced species according to Invasive and exotic insects.