Latania Scale – Hemiberlesia lataniae

Lantania scale–Hemiberlesia lataniae

Common Name: Lantania scale

Latin Name:  Hemiberlesia lataniae,

Appearance:

Closely related to the Greedy scale but distinguished by the yellow exuvium as opposed to the brown exuvium of the Greedy scale. Similar to the soft scales Olive Scale and Oleander Scale, but distinguishable by the wax shell’s more conical form. The scale insect is yellow after the wax shell is removed.

Eggs:

Eggs are laid behind the female’s armor, where they grow and hatch.

Crawlers:

The first stage after newly hatched is the only nymphal stage with legs, so the insects are called crawlers. Crawlers may remain protected by the maternal armor for several hours until outside circumstances, particularly temperature and humidity, improve. They can roam for minutes to days after leaving cover, although they normally only travel for a few hours. They flatten against the leaf or stem near the conclusion of their roaming phase and begin to secrete their armor.

Host plant:

Latania scale insects have been discovered on over 160 host plants, including hollies, hummingbird bushes, canna lilies, and gladiolus corms.

Territory:

The Latania scale is native to Europe but across the world’s tropical areas.

Damages caused by Lantania scale-:

These scales consume leaves, bark, and fruit as food. Fruit that has been infested has a dark purple stain with a defined outline. The scale is at the center of the area. Fruit with scale has lost its value.

Life history and habits:

Temperature, humidity, and rainfall influence the number of days for each developmental stage and the number of generations yearly. Based on a generalized life cycle of other tropical species, the life cycle from egg to reproducing adult takes around 30 days. Eggs are placed behind the female’s armor, where they mature and hatch into crawlers. Crawlers may remain protected by the maternal armor for several hours until outside circumstances, particularly temperature and humidity, improve. They explore for a few hours after leaving the cover. They flatten against the leaf or stem near the conclusion of their roaming phase and begin to secrete their armor. Newly established nymphs pierce plant tissue with their sucking mouthparts and start feasting on plant fluids. Female latania scales lack legs and resemble larvae, and they stay beneath armor in one area to feed and breed. Males and females have drastically diverse appearances and behaviors. They don’t eat and survive for a few hours to mating.