Pine Tortoise Scale
Toumeyella parvicornis
This record describes Toumeyella parvicornis (species). Recorded family: Coccidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Shoot or twig form: female convex and hemispherical, reddish-brown with black or dark markings. Needle form: female elongate, greenish.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Sternorrhyncha
- Superfamily
- Coccoidea
- Family
- Coccidae (Soft Scale Insects)
- Genus
- Toumeyella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Various species of pines.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Cockerell, 1897
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Toumeyella parvicornis. 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 Pine Tortoise Scale (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Claude Pilon
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Tortoise Scale
What is Pine Tortoise Scale?
Pine Tortoise Scale (Toumeyella parvicornis) is a species in the family Coccidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How do you identify Pine Tortoise Scale?
Shoot or twig form: female convex and hemispherical, reddish-brown with black or dark markings. Needle form: female elongate, greenish.
What does Pine Tortoise Scale eat?
The diet of the Pine Tortoise Scale includes Various species of pines..