False Oleander Scale
Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli
This record describes Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (species). Recorded family: Diaspididae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
First reported in California in 1942. Probably introduced with a shipment of palms from China.
Wikipedia reference for Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudaulacaspis_cockerelli.
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
- Pseudaulacaspis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California, Florida, Georgia and Alabama and probably in all the Gulf states.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: A wide range of hosts including Magnolia, Hedera, Taxus, Cornus , etc.
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli. 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 False Oleander Scale (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About False Oleander Scale
What is False Oleander Scale?
False Oleander Scale (Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli) is a species in the family Diaspididae, within the order Hemiptera.
Where is False Oleander Scale found?
Range: California, Florida, Georgia and Alabama and probably in all the Gulf states.
What does False Oleander Scale eat?
The diet of the False Oleander Scale includes A wide range of hosts including Magnolia, Hedera, Taxus, Cornus , etc..