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Project Noah Nature School
Family Coreidae
Like miniscule bedroom slippers or "crocs", these little black structures were found on every yellowing leaf of this young acacia wattle tree. They were ovate in shape with what looked like a series of rigid shields, across the upper surface, with a rounded margin. There appeared to be a well defined opening at one end of the structure; the margins of the opening were also well-rounded and smooth. Some of them had a paler median strip. The last picture shows an case with no opening. 1.5mm long.
Acacia wattle. Growing on a nature strip. We've had light rain for the past couple of weeks with temperatures ranging between 11-16deg C.
These black structures were initially thought to be Scale. However, a spotting by BioEu in Mexico http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/127... indicates that these might be empty egg cases of a Coreid bug. Further research shows that the fruit-spotting bugs in Brisbane of the tribe Dasynini show similar egg cases ( see reference)
Spotted on May 9, 2012
Submitted on May 10, 2012
8 Comments
Martin, the little black ?scale in the last pic was on the same leaf as the ones on pic #4, just a little removed. I assumed that it was an underdeveloped scale. Not certain what these are but they peeled off quite readily revealing a hollow shell. I must admit that one of these scales appeared to have a thin film of ?waxy material on the underside when turned over - part of the leaf cuticle perhaps??.
Have you seen scales with in-rolled margins ?. If there are such scales, then it is highly possible that they may lift off some of the waxy leaf cuticle, I'd think.
We had the same problem with it martin so I brought some back to the microscope and found they ARE actually open to the leaf. I'll get L to include these scope photos. (and maybe they should be called 'worn-out' croc shoes instead)
I dont think this is a scale insect, they cling to the leaf holding eggs underneath http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/884... It looks like an egg sac glued to the leaf and hatched. The last 'unhatched' one has a different surface and is aligned diagonally along the leaf. Is this a different structure altogether? You've got us stumped again!
thanks everyone - I am really taken-up with this one. I do hope I can find an ID.
They are so neat Leuba! Hope you find an ident : )
I've got orange ones... would love a pair of black ones for formal occasions :)
Boy, your "crocs" description is right on!
Interesante!!