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common name: white peach scale scienti ic name: Pseudaulacaspis pentagona !"a#gioni$ !Insecta: %emipte#a: Diaspi&i&ae$ Int#o&'ction ( Dist#i)'tion ( Desc#iption ( Li e Cycle ( Economic Signi icance ( *anagement ( Selecte& +e e#ences Int#o&'ction !,ack to "op$
White peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni), is believed to have originated in Japan or China, although one report places the point of origin in Italy where is was first described in 188 by Targioni! This insect is an i"portant econo"ic pest of peach trees as well as woody orna"entals in the southeastern #nited $tates! In the early part of this century, white peach scale destroyed nu"erous peach orchards in %lorida and co"pletely deci"ated a grove of 1&,&&& peach trees in south 'eorgia!

Figure 1. (dults and i""atures of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni)! )hotograph by *yle J! +uss, #niversity of %lorida!

Dist#i)'tion !,ack to "op$

White peach scale is found not only in the #nited $tates, but is ,nown throughout the world! In other areas it is ,nown by a variety of co""on na"es including white scale and West Indian peach scale! In +er"uda, this pest is ,nown as oleander scale because of the "assive da"age it caused to oleander plants in 1-.&! In the #nited $tates, it is found pri"arily in the southeast, although it has been reported as far west as Te/as and in northern states up to 0aine! 1awaii first reported this pest in 1--2 where it endangers the papaya crop! ( survey in .&&34.&&5 found it still li"ited to the big island (1awaii)! 1owever, the scale has been found on fruit for sale on 6ahu! In .&& , an infestation was reported on 7aui (Wood .&&-, Wright .&&-)!

Desc#iption !,ack to "op$

Eggs. 8ggs are deposited on the surface of the host plant! They range in color fro" orange to white indicating fe"ale and "ale offspring respectively! 8ggs of an inter"ediate color "ay also be evident which can produce offspring of either se/! Larvae. The larvae will hatch fro" the egg case within appro/i"ately three to four days after being laid! The young crawlers will soon settle on an area of the host plant and insert their stylets into the plant to begin feeding! The larvae will undergo two to five "olts, depending on their se/! Adult female. The adult fe"ale scale is i""obile on the host plant! $he is covered with a protective shell which is created by incorporating the cast s,ins fro" her previous "olts with newly secreted wa/ fro" her body glands! $he "ay also gather pieces of bar, fro" the host plant to add to her shell which then serves as protective ca"ouflage! The appearance of the fe"ale is dull white to yellowish in color, oval in shape, with an overall length "easuring between .!& to .!5 ""!

Figure 2. (dult fe"ale white peach scales, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni)! )hotograph by *yle J! +uss, #niversity of %lorida

Adult male. 0ales of the white peach scale begin building their ar"or after their second "olt and their covering appears as a long white to yellowish colored shell! The "ales will "olt three "ore ti"es, eventually e"erging as an orange colored adult and living only for a period of appro/i"ately .3 hours! #nli,e fe"ales of this species, adult "ales possess wings in order to be "obile for "ate location! The adult "ale body length is appro/i"ately &!2 "" with a 1!3 "" wingspan!

Figure 3. (dult "ale white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni)! )hotograph by *yle J! +uss, #niversity of %lorida

Li e Cycle !,ack to "op$

The life cycle of the white peach scale depends upon the cli"ate in which it resides! In northern states, such as )ennsylvania, there "ay only two generations each year! In the southern states of 9irginia, :orth Carolina, 'eorgia, and %lorida, there are as "any as four generations per year! The adult fe"ales of the white peach scale begin laying eggs appro/i"ately two wee,s after "ating and will continue to lay eggs for eight or nine "ore days! (fter the fe"ale has finished the oviposition or egg4laying process she will soon die! (n interesting pheno"enon of the egg laying process is that the eggs which are deposited first are orange in color and will beco"e fe"ale offspring, while the eggs that are laid later are white and will give rise to "ale offspring! The average nu"ber of eggs produced by each fe"ale will vary due to several factors, but is pri"arily influenced by the species of the host plant that is being infested! In 'eorgia, it was reported that fe"ale scales laid an average of 1&& eggs when peach trees served as the host plant, while in %lorida, an average of 8& eggs were laid on potato plants! The eggs hatch three to four days after being deposited and young crawlers e"erge!

Figure 4. (dult fe"ale white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni), with eggs! )hotograph by *yle J! +uss, #niversity of %lorida! The "ale offspring have a tendency to stay near the scaly covering of their "other, so"eti"es sheltering under her ar"or! 'enerally, the fe"ales will wander further away fro" the "other which serves to distribute the scale infestation throughout the host plant! The young scales will "ove about the host plant for up to 1. hours and then settle down to begin feeding! %e"ale white peach scales will undergo two "olts before reaching se/ual "aturity as adults! 0ales will undergo five "olts before reaching adulthood! 6nce "ature, however, the "ales will live for only one day! To facilitate the "ating process, fe"ales will release se/ phero"one ti"ed to the eclosion of the "ales! The "ales are then attracted to the phero"one and are capable of "ating with several different fe"ales in a short period of ti"e!

Economic Signi icance !,ack to "op$

The white peach scale inhabits up to 1.1 host plants in %lorida and can cause "a;or econo"ic da"age! $o"e of the host plants that have been identified are privet, "ulberry, paper "ulberry, catalpa, and chinaberry! Thousands of dollars are spent each year on the control of this pest as infestation can beco"e significant! The white peach scale will infest the bar,, fruit and leaves of plants, thus "a,ing it a <triple threat< to growers!

*anagement !,ack to "op$

Predators. In %lorida, several predators feed on white peach scale! )ri"arily, these species are ladybird beetles (Coleoptera= Coccindellidae), and co""on lacewings (:europtera= Chrysopidae)! $o"e gall "idges, (>iptera= Cecido"yiidae) also attac, white peach scale! In .&&-, researchers in 1awaii i"ported a parasitoid wasp, Encarsia diasapidicola, under ?uarantine! The wasp will be tested under laboratory conditions for white peach scale control!

Chemical. 0anage"ent of the white peach scale is difficult as the scales protect the"selves very effectively with their hard, wa/y ar"or! Control "ethods are often best directed at the larval or crawler stages which are the "ost vulnerable! Traditional "ethods of control have included various insecticidal oils as well as a nu"ber of other pesticides! (s insecticide reco""endations and regulations are updated yearly, it is advisable to consult a local Cooperative 8/tension $ervice office or a pesticide reference guide for current infor"ation on control "ethods for this pest! %lorida Insect 0anage"ent 'uide for orna"entals %lorida Insect 0anage"ent 'uide for fruit

Selecte& +e e#ences !,ack to "op$

+obb 0*, Weidhaas J(, )onton *%! 1-2@! White peach scale= life 1istory and control studies! Journal of 8cono"ic 8nto"ology = 1.-&41.-.! Collins %(, Whitco"b W1! 1-25! :atural ene"ies of the white peach scale Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (1o"optera= Coccoidea), in %lorida! %lorida 8nto"ologist 58= 154.1! >uyn J9, 0urphey 0! 1-21! *ife history and control of white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (1o"optera= Coccoidea)! %lorida 8nto"ologist 53= -14-5! 'ossard 1(! 1-&.! Two peach scales! %lorida (gricultural 8/peri"ent $tation +ulletin 1= 3-.4 .-8! 1a"on (+! 1-8@! White peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ! 4 ToAA!) (1o"optera= Coccoidea= >iaspididae)! 8nto"ology Circular :o! .5@! %lorida >epart"ent of (gricultural and Consu"er $ervices! >ivision of )lant Industry! . pp! %asulo TB, 7ern W, 7oehler )', $hort >8! (.&&5)! )ests In and (round the 1o"e! 9ersion .!&! #niversity of %loridaCI%($! C>4B60! $W 1. ! 0c*aughlin JB, 1eath BB, (shley TB! 1--&! )eriodicity of phero"one release fro" fe"ale white peach scale! )hysiological 8nto"ology 15= 1-@41-2! 0iAell B%, %asulo TB, $hort >8! (.&&.)! Woody+ug= pest and beneficial arthropods of southeastern #!$! woody orna"entals! #niversity of %loridaCI%($! C>4B60! $W 11-! $ti""el J%! 1-8.! $easonal history of the white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targ! 4 ToAA!) (1o"optera= >iaspididae), in northeastern )ennsylvania! )roceedings of the 8nto"ology $ociety of Washington 83= 1.841@@! Wood 0! (July .&&-)! )es,y white peach scale targeted in tropical studies! USDA-ARS News & Events! (.3 $epte"ber .&1.)! Wright 0'! ((pril .&&-)! :ews on tropical fruit and nut pests and I)0 reco""endations! Insect Ecology and Integrated Pest Management a!" University o# $awaii at Manoa ! (.3 $epte"ber .&1.)! Donce C8, Jac,lin $W! 1-23! *ife history of the white peach scale in central 'eorgia! Journal of the 'eorgia 8nto"ological $ociety -= .1@4.1 !

Author: Deanna Branscome, University of Florida Photographs by: yle !" Buss, University of Florida #eb Design: Don #asi$, !ane %edley

Publication &umber: ''&()*+ Publication Date: February ,---" atest revision: September ./,." 0opyright University of Florida 1 An '2ual 3pportunity 4nstitution Pro5ect 0oordinator: !ennifer " Gillett)6aufman, University of Florida