Beech Scale vs Italian Acerentomid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Beech Scale Italian Acerentomid
Scientific Name Cryptococcus fagisuga Acerentomon italicum
Order Hemiptera Protura
Family Eriococcidae Acerentomidae
Size 0.5-1 mm 0.7-1.2 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Beech Scale

A tiny scale insect that feeds on beech bark, creating wounds that allow the Neonectria fungus to enter. Together they cause beech bark disease.

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Did You Know?

The scale-fungus complex has killed millions of beech trees across northeastern North America.

Italian Acerentomid

A small proturan originally described from Italian soils. It is typical of Mediterranean forest floor environments.

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Did You Know?

Like all proturans, this species was completely unknown to science until Filippo Silvestri first described the order in 1907.