Coccoidea
Coccoidea is a superfamily of insects that comprises many species with variable appearances. They are commonly known as scale insects, a name that also engulfs the entire infraorder Coccomorpha, comprising around 8000 known species. These insects are herbivores that pierce plant tissue with their sharp mouthparts and feed on sap. Some species are considered serious crop pests and display a wide range of hosts, such as eucalyptus, citrus, magnolias, and other woody plants, as well as fungus and ornamental plants. Different species require different environmental and weather conditions, and they can’t survive long without a host. They tend to be immobile as they find a host and cling onto it, and exude a fluid where mold tends to grow. These insects are hard to control since their waxy scales protect them from insecticides, but they have several natural enemies, including parasitoid wasps and predatory beetles like ladybugs.
