Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Breadfruit (Seychelles) scale (242)

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Photo 1. Colony of Icerya seychellarum on Macaranga species Papua New Guinea attended by Oecophylla ants. Immatures are yellow.

Photo 2. Icerya seychellarum on unidentified host. Note the red colour of the mealybugs under the white powdery wax.

Photo 3. Icerya seychellarum adults showing the long hairs and white and yellow waxy coverings.

Photo 4. Infestation of flowers of Veitchia species, with all stages of Icerya seychellarum; from a distance the flowers appear white.

Photo 5. Close-up of one of the flower spikes of Veitchia species (Photo 4), showing infestation of Icerya seychellarum.

Summary

• Widespread distribution. Especially woody plants. Common on avocado, breadfruit, Casuarina, citrus, Ficus, guava. Hosts occur in more than 60 plant families. Many hosts. An important pest.
• Females produce living young. Males rare.
• Outbreaks cause leaves to yellow and shoots to die.
• Honeydew from these sap-sucking scales falls onto leaves and fruits, to be turned black by fungal moulds.
• Natural enemies: ladybird beetles (Rodolia) important.
• Cultural control: prune infested stems, branches and fruits, and burn; add fertilizer, manure or compost to improve tree health; assist natural enemies: destroy ants' nests (hot water), prune low branches, and weed.
• Chemical control: soap, white or horticultural oils; priority is to remove ants to let natural enemies work: use synthetic pyrethroids.

Common Name

Seychelles scale, silvery cushion scale, breadfruit mealybug

Scientific Name

Icerya seychellarum

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