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

Species Ceroplastes rusci - Fig Scale


Miller D., Rung A., Parikh G., Venable G., Redford A.J., Evans G.A., Gill R.J. (2014) Scale Insects, 2nd ed.
[cite:774732]
Site map

USDA Agricultural Research Service
Identification keys and descriptions of the scales and mealybugs.
Click the graphic to enter.

U.S. National Collection of Scale Insect Photographs
This is a collection of over 1,400 images of a large number of scale insect species. The only way to access it, though, is through a query form (under "Search the Collection" on the menu). That's fine if you have a scientific name or family name, but not if you just want to browse the pictures. Fortunately, you can click "Start Search" on the empty search form and it will come up with entries to browse, along with a (belated)"Browse All Records" button.

This is a good source for visual ID if you have a scientific name or you don't mind wading through large numbers of pictures. The classific

ScaleNet
This is an online database hosted by the USDA which is a collaboration between US and Israeli scientists. It includes classification, nomenclatural history, distribution, hosts, and literature information. It's a good source if you have a scientific name and want authoritative information.

There are a variety of USDA resources in the menu that vary in usefulness and should be dealt with separately, including a photo database, a list of the nearctic taxa (thanks, =v=) and an interactive key to families.

Lis et al. (2012) Hemiptera Poloniae
[cite:852762]
Hemiptera of Poland data base; helpful info on the many spp. introduced from Eurasia to N. America

Homoptera on Discover Life
[cite:713406]

i really don't know how to cite parts of discoverlife properly: some sections show the authors, some don't; some are very good or at least helpful, others are quite unreliable...

Wilson M.R., Turner J.A. (2010) Leafhopper, planthopper and psyllid vectors of plant disease
[cite:654150]

Bantock T., Botting J. (2010‒) British Bugs, an online identification guide to UK Hemiptera
[cite:487470]
a helpful resource with quality photos of >500 spp.