Elongate Hemlock Scale
Fiorinia externa
This record describes Fiorinia externa (species). Recorded family: Diaspididae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
F. externa will displace Nuculaspis tsugue from the nitrogen-rich terminal needles of hemlock trees, relegating it to feeding on mature needles where it incurs reduced fecundity and heavy mortality
Wikipedia reference for Fiorinia externa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiorinia_externa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Sternorrhyncha
- Superfamily
- Coccoidea
- Family
- Diaspididae (Armored Scale Insects)
- Genus
- Fiorinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Believed to have been introduced from Japan (earliest record: NY 1908), now occurs from MA to VA & OH
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hemlocks ( Tsuga ) and other conifers
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Fiorinia externa Ferris 1942
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Fiorinia externa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Elongate Hemlock Scale (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by v belov , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Elongate Hemlock Scale
What is Elongate Hemlock Scale?
Elongate Hemlock Scale (Fiorinia externa) is a species in the family Diaspididae, within the order Hemiptera.
Where is Elongate Hemlock Scale found?
Range: Believed to have been introduced from Japan (earliest record: NY 1908), now occurs from MA to VA & OH
What does Elongate Hemlock Scale eat?
The diet of the Elongate Hemlock Scale includes Hemlocks ( Tsuga ) and other conifers.