Scale Insect

Typically found attached to the stems, leaves, or fruits of host plants, including indoor houseplants and outdoor trees.

They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap (phloem) of various plants.

The adult females are generally sedentary and protected by a waxy, shell-like covering. They produce honeydew, a sticky substance that can lead to sooty mold growth.

They are significant agricultural and horticultural pests that can weaken or kill plants. They offer little benefit to the ecosystem other than being a minor food source for some predatory insects like lady beetles.