A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ceroplastes sinensis
Scale insects on mangrove trees. At least two forms here? The small ones were about 1 to 2 mm - white when small and showing red within the protrusions when slightly larger. The ones attached to the stems (mostly but not exclusively) were much larger - perhaps 7mm diameter- they had indentations - one on top and six around the base.
On mangrove trees just above any possible high tide (20cm).
These mangroves ('Grey mangrove' - Avicennia marina) are reputedly the southern-most mangroves in the world. This waxy scale is introduced and was first seen in Sydney, Australia in 1966. A serious pest to citrus now it is infesting our mangroves !!!? The small white ones are 2nd-instars and the 'red' bodied ones are 3rd-instars. The large waxy ones are adult females.
Spotted on Jul 7, 2013
Submitted on Jul 7, 2013
1 Comment
Nasty. Poor mangrove.