Indian Wax Scale

Typically found on stems and twigs of various ornamental plants, including holly, camellia, pyracantha, and euonymus in landscape settings.

Plant sap; they feed by inserting needle-like mouthparts into the host plant's phloem to extract fluids.

Adult females are immobile and covered in a thick, sticky, gummy white-to-pinkish wax. They produce honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth. Immature scales ('crawlers') move to find feeding spots before settling permanently.

They are a plant pest. Heavy infestations can weaken the host plant, cause dieback, and produce unsightly sooty mold. They are generally harmless to humans but can be damaging to landscaping and gardens.