Cottony Cushion Scale vs Western Drywood Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cottony Cushion Scale | Western Drywood Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Icerya purchasi | Incisitermes minor |
| Order | Hemiptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Monophlebidae | Kalotermitidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm including egg sac | 4-11 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Caves |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Originally Australia, now cosmopolitan | Western United States, Northern Mexico |
| 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.
Western Drywood Termite
A common drywood termite of the western United States that infests structural timbers and furniture. Unlike subterranean species, they require no soil contact.
Did You Know?
Their dry fecal pellets, pushed out of tiny kick-out holes, are often the first visible sign of an infestation.