Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Hibiscus lesser snow scale (346)

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Photo 1. Masses of, mostly male, lesser snow scale, Pinnaspis strachani, on oil palm fruit.

Photo 2. Close-up of Photo 1 to show the male and female lesser snow scale (lower centre), Pinnaspis strachani.

Photo 3. Adult lesser snow scale, Pinnaspis strachani, slide-mounted, and armour removed.

Summary

• Widespread distribution. On fruit trees, shrubs and ornamentals, e.g., citrus, hibiscus, coconut, mango, and oil palm, but usually under biological control.
• Sucks sap fron leaves, stems and fruit, weakening plants and causing distortions.
• Eggs laid under cover or "armour", hatching to produce "crawlers" (nymphs); these moult becoming females, up to 2.5 mm long, mussel-shaped, white to light brown, or males, shorter, narrower, and snow-white. Males become tiny fly-like insects, with wings; they are short-lived.
• Spread by crawlers walking, or carried by wind, vehicles, animals, birds, on clothes, and the trade in plants.
• Natural enemies: ladybird beetles, parasitoid wasps (Aspidiotiphagus, Aphytis and others).
• Cultural control: check nursery stock is free from infestation; if present, prune; wide spacing preventing leaves touching and crawlers moving between trees.
• Chemical control: use lime sulphur or wettable sulphur, leaving 30 days if spraying oils (READ INSTRUCTIONS); alternatively, spot-spray infestations with soap solution, horticultural or white oils (see Fact Sheet no. 56); avoid malathion and synthetic pyrethroids - they will kill natural enemies.

Common Name

Lesser snow scale, hibiscus snow scale

Scientific Name

Pinnaspis strachani

This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

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