Cottony Cushion Scale

Description:

Looked like a yellowing 3mm long cauliflower floret. this cottony cushion scale insect had a white anterior part and a posterior yellow waxy egg sac. Pic #1 shows what looks like a ladybird larva partially hidden under the egg sac of the scale insect.

Habitat:

A soft needle pine

Notes:

There were two such insects on this tree. Both were partly yellow - the first I've ever seen. I did not see the ladybird larva until much later -it might belong to one of two tribes that have larvae with waxy covering. These larvae might mimic mealybugs on which they prey but they also feed on cottony cushion scales !!