Cottony Cushion Scale vs Citrus Spittlebug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cottony Cushion Scale | Citrus Spittlebug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Icerya purchasi | Clastoptera undulata |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Monophlebidae | Clastopteridae |
| Size | 5-8 mm including egg sac | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Orchards |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Originally Australia, now cosmopolitan | Southeastern United States, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cottony Cushion Scale
A scale insect with a distinctive white fluted egg sac that devastated California's citrus industry in the 1880s. Its control by vedalia beetles was the first major success of biological pest control.
Did You Know?
The introduction of vedalia ladybirds to control it in 1889 saved the California citrus industry from collapse.
Citrus Spittlebug
A small oval-shaped spittlebug with dark brown and cream banding. Nymphs produce frothy spittle masses on pecan, citrus, and other trees throughout the southeastern United States.
Did You Know?
Spittle masses produced by the nymphs can be so abundant on pecan trees that they rain down on people walking beneath, giving the impression of a light drizzle.