can anyone identify these?

jazzycat 5/4/2013, 1:29 pm

So I went out earlier to check on the garden, and I found these two bugs on my avocado tree. I think I read they're bad news, but I wanted to be sure before I squash them.

Does anyone know what they are?

Where should I be looking to see if there are more? Do they like certain plants? Have certain places they like to hide, etc.?

Thanks bunches!

jazzycat 5/4/2013, 1:45 pm

hmmmmm... checking the forum in the pest section, it appears it might be some kind of a lady bug? I could swear I'd seen a picture of these somewhere saying they were bad. I'll keep checking, but if anyone knows, it would be greatly appreciated. Smile

**sanderson** 5/4/2013, 3:25 pm

From the photo, they look like lady bug pupa, the 3rd stage, before they emerge as adults. Here is a short You Tube video showing the 4 cycles: egg, larval, pupal and adult. The larva look gross, but I'm glad I found out what they were before I started squishing them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exjuH-Wpc6Q

jazzycat 5/4/2013, 4:41 pm

Yep! That's it! I'm so happy to know there are ladybugs here. I saw an adult one a few weeks ago, but that's the first time I've noticed one here. Very Happy

ArkansasSFGardener 5/4/2013, 4:53 pm

**sanderson** 1/12/2015, 3:13 am

Can anyone help identify these pupa (?) cases? My first thought was scale but I don't think so when I look at the photo. They were on my Bower vines and I pruned where ever I saw them and disposed in the green waste can. In 20 years of having these vines, I have never seen anything like them. Thank you in advance.

has55 1/12/2015, 6:44 am

ArkansasSFGardener wrote:

yep lady bugs. good picture.

**camprn** 1/12/2015, 8:37 am

sanderson wrote:Can anyone help identify these pupa (?) cases? My first thought was scale but I don't think so when I look at the photo. They were on my Bower vines and I pruned where ever I saw them and disposed in the green waste can. In 20 years of having these vines, I have never seen anything like them. Thank you in advance.

That's a new one for me, but it is probably a critter unique to your area. There is always the entomologist.
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=52245

**sanderson** 1/12/2015, 1:36 pm

Camp, I also emailed a photo last night to a MG who helped with the curly leaf disease. I will see if the County has an entomologist again. Norm Smith retired and moved to the coast. Lucky person

**sanderson** 1/12/2015, 3:23 pm

MG would like a sample. They think from the photo it is a scale.

Judy McConnell 1/12/2015, 3:52 pm

I found it, I found it!!

Tamarisk Manna scale

http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2012/February/120209OSL.html

**sanderson** 1/12/2015, 9:17 pm

Judy, I think it's a match! My question is, what the heck is it doing here in California? I will forward the link to the local MG.

has55 1/12/2015, 11:58 pm

it does look like a match.

Judy McConnell 1/13/2015, 8:24 am

Curious about the scale being on bower vine too.

If this is the correct scale and it's major food is the tamarisk tree?? Has the tree moved into CA? Also called salt cedar, the tree is a serious pest plant in the deserts.
It probably wouldn't take much for the scale to jump from tamarisk to other plants?

These are all questions that I wonder about and have few answers.

http://www.desertmuseum.org/invaders/invaders_tamarisk.php

**sanderson** 1/13/2015, 12:54 pm

Maybe folks in drought-ridden CA are using it for xeriscape gardening? I'll keep you updated.

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