Cottony Cushion Scale vs Harvester Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cottony Cushion Scale | Harvester Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Icerya purchasi | Hodotermes mossambicus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Monophlebidae | Hodotermitidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm including egg sac | 8–15 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Grasslands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Originally Australia, now cosmopolitan | Southern and Eastern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
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.
Harvester Termite
One of the few termite species that forages above ground in broad daylight. Workers have functional eyes and harvest dry grass from savanna surfaces.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only termites with fully developed compound eyes, an adaptation for its daytime foraging lifestyle.