Harlequin Bug vs San Jose Scale
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Harlequin Bug | San Jose Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Murgantia histrionica | Diaspidiotus perniciosus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Pentatomidae | Diaspididae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 1-2 mm diameter |
| Habitat | Farmland | Orchards |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Worldwide temperate regions |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Harlequin Bug
A boldly patterned stink bug with striking black and orange or red markings arranged in a harlequin pattern. It is a significant pest of cabbage and other cruciferous crops.
Did You Know?
Female harlequin bugs lay their barrel-shaped eggs in precise double rows of 12, resembling tiny black-and-white striped barrels arranged like dominos.
San Jose Scale
A tiny armored scale insect that forms gray encrustations on the bark and fruit of apple, pear, and stone fruit trees. It was one of the first pests to prompt quarantine legislation.
Did You Know?
Its discovery in San Jose, California in 1880 led to the first plant quarantine law in the United States.