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Cotton Cushion Scale

Icerya purchasi

Description:

Soft bodies scale bug producing waxy secretions for protection.

Habitat:

Found on stems of Acacia

Notes:

These are unique to Australia. Also known as Australian mealybugs. This specimen is female and males are scarce and tiny. These can multiply parthenogenetically, without a male.

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5 Comments

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Here is the most bizarre reproductive method of the only hermaphrodite insect!!!
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notroc...

CindyBinghamKeiser
CindyBinghamKeiser 12 years ago

These are actually found here too! Native but not unique to Australia. They arrived in California in the late 1960's on Acacia plants. I have a spotting at: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/784...

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

awesome shot

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Interesting photo & info!

MartinL
Spotted by
MartinL

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Nov 23, 2011
Submitted on Nov 26, 2011

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