Scale Insect from California

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » Plant-parasitic Hemipterans (Sternorrhyncha) » Scales and Mealybugs (Coccoidea) » Soft Scale Insects (Coccidae)

Photo#249913

Copyright © 2009 Harsi S. Parker

Scale Insect from California

Webb Canyon, ~2000 ft. altitude, Los Angeles County, California, USA
October 20, 2008
Size: ~3.25 mm

At first, I thought this was just an odd growth on the stem of an Oleander plant. Then, I noticed that the ants (which were normally quite busy tending the hordes of Oleander Aphids in their care) seemed quite preoccupied with it and I snapped a few shots so that I could investigate it later. After doing some reading on this site, I think it is most likely that this is some sort of scale insect, looking most similar to some of the examples I saw for soft scale insects in the family Coccidae. This would be my first experience with seeing anything of this type, so I would very much appreciate confirmation of my suspicions. Also, I would love to hear any guesses as to what species of ant is pictured. Sorry, the image isn't of higher quality!

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Contributed by Harsi S. Parker on 21 January, 2009 - 7:25pm
Last updated 5 April, 2010 - 12:01am

I think Coccidae is right

Moving there for now... doesn't look like you're getting any takers on the ant ID.

… Charley Eiseman, 3 April, 2009 - 7:31pm

Thanks Charley...

...I figured that's what they were, but I'm such a beginner that I didn't want to make any assumptions about where to place them in the guide. As to the ant, I didn't really expect there would be much response given the poor quality of the photos.

… Harsi S. Parker, 3 April, 2009 - 7:41pm

Ants

My ants that look just like those were identified as Prenolepis imparis, the winter ant or false honey ant.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/288870

… R. Berg, 22 June, 2009 - 2:08am

Thanks!

I actually recall viewing the post you referenced and thinking to myself that yours looked very similar to the ants I see regularly hosting the aphids on the Oleander around my house. I had been meaning to follow-up by posting some better pictures of the ants themselves, but haven't done so yet. I appreciate your taking the time to check out these images and for giving me a heads-up about a possible species match!

… Harsi S. Parker, 22 June, 2009 - 2:20am

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