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Scale insect (Coccidae)


Scale insect (Coccidae)
Photo Information
Copyright: marie christine guegan (mariki) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 65 N: 2013] (8401)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-13
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Samsung digimax D103
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-05-14 2:58
Viewed: 462
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Does anyone know what it is? It is on a bark, size around 8mm. I could find these things on many species of trees.
I have no idea at all.

No points for that, just would like to know what it is.

On another tree, with other lighting in the WS

Update:

The life cycle of scale insects vary among species. The following descriptions provide a generalized background of scale insect biology.

Scale insects are known to have diversity of reproductive systems including hermaphroditism (bisexuality) and parthenogenesis (Ben-Dov et al. 2001). Adults females lay eggs or give birth to live young(first instar). Eggs are either laid in a cavity under the female body or in a waxy cover attached to the body (the white cotton-like part in my picture?). The scales that are newly born or hatched are known as crawlers. In this stage it moves about in search of succulent new growth to feed upon.

Female undergoes simple metamorphosis with three to four total instars and does not have a pupa-like instar, whereas male undergoes complete metamorphosis with 5 instars including two pupa-like instars. During the pupa-like instars male has only rudimentary mouthparts and does not feed (Ben-Dov et al. 2001). The adult female scales, however, feed continuously and remain fixed in one location or have very limited movement.

Description

Adult: Adult females of armored and soft scales are sessile, legless, wingless, and do not have a clear head and body region. The body form and shape varies from being circular, oval, hemispherical, oblong, thread-like to being pear-shaped. The most characteristic feature of the sale insects is that they secrete copious amounts of wax-like secretaion. In the armored scales, the waxy secretion together with their cast skin forms a hard and protective coting. In the soft scales, however, there is no true armor but their body is still hardened by a waxy secretion.

Male scales are more insect-like in appearance with a distinct head, thorax, and abdomen region and wings. The adult male lives for a day or less and never feeds (Ben-Dov et al. 2001).

Egg: Eggs are laid underneath the waxy covering and remain there for one to three weeks before they hatch. If an adult female is turned over, it is possible to see the egg mass.

(source: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in649)

They present also pictures of different forms.



Thanks to Bayram for his help in identifying this insect. No time for the moment, I will update this note later.
boreocypriensis, maurydv, JPlumb, jpdenk, haraprasan, peter_stoeckl, lovenature has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To smitha: Thank you Smithamariki 1 05-16 00:44
To Mana: Thank you,mariki 1 05-15 07:43
To boreocypriensis: I think you are right.mariki 3 05-14 14:37
To boreocypriensis: Thank you Bayram,mariki 1 05-14 12:38
To gannu: Thank you,mariki 1 05-14 09:29
To haraprasan: I do not knowmariki 1 05-14 05:14
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Marie,
I think this is some sort of leaf beetle. But I am not sure. A good capture with good details and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1968] (8357)
  • [2008-05-14 10:00]

Bonsoir Marie-Christine,
Voilà une trouvaille intéressante! Mais je ne puis pas aider, malheureusement. Mais je suis très curuiueuse aussi..alors attendons :-)
Bonne soirée
Anne

Hello Marie,

Strange insect, i don't know this art.
Well good of sharpness.

Gert

Hi Marie,

No idea what it is but the picture you have taken is just great. The composition is nice, details sharp and good natural colours.

TFS

Pekka

Hi Marie, superb macro capture of this unknown animal:) if it is a insect! it could be "scale insect" a large group of hhomopterans, belonging to several families, named for waxy or horny scales under which most of the females live. Most females are wingles and legless: only the sap-sucking beak reveals their relationship to other bugs. These female scale insects do not really look like insects at all. Most species reproduce by parthenogenesis (gynogenesis)and lifting a female may reveal hundred eggs (like the brown spheres in your WS captures near the subject). Your capture resembles Parthenolecanium sp. TFS and cheers,
Vayram

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-05-14 12:29]

Hi Marie. Sorry Icant help with the ID. But your picture which has good detail will help some TN member to ID this for you. TFS.
Nick.

PS it looks like some type of shield bug..

Non conosco gli insetti, ma mi fanno pensare a insetti dannosi come quelli della famiglia coccoidea. Spettacolare macro, la particolarità dell'insetto e la ripresa danno un connotato di natura artistica di tipo astratto a questa bellissima immagine, ottima nitidezza. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1048 W: 1 N: 4156] (13964)
  • [2008-05-14 21:55]

Hello Marie,
I see by the thread with Bayram that you have a identifaction, thank goodness because I would have been useless. Both images are great macro work and the information generated by you and Bayram has taught me a great lesson today, thank you.
Rick

Hi Marie, very nicely seen and captured in this clear shot of yours. I read yours and Bayram's notes. Very interesting. I had heard of aphids being protected by ants, but not other inscects. This one is a new one to me for sure.

Thanks, I've learned something new today, John

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1002 W: 6 N: 2700] (10017)
  • [2008-05-15 4:29]

Salut Marie,quand jai vu la photo avant de lire les notes j'avais pense' a un petit poisson.eeheh....vraiment j'ai jamais vu un insect (???) comme ca,c'est un grand scoop mais dommage je n'ai la plus petite idee' de quoi peut etre il...mes compliments pour la qualite' de la photo,Luciano

Hi Mariki, sorry, I don't know Id of this strange bug, but it's a splendid macro with fantastic details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 923 W: 4 N: 2310] (10776)
  • [2008-05-15 6:07]
  • [+]

Hello Mariki,
Sometimes I also observed them not such one but similar ones. After seeing this now I feel that I should start clicking them. Earlier I used to ignore them. Will do from now onwards. But this shot is very nicely composed as it is not easy to shoot them focussed. Ganesh Bankrupt will b back

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-05-15 6:18]

Hi Marie,
Interesting capture.Clear details,exposure and focus are perfect.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-05-15 7:13]
  • [+]

Hi Marie,
Excellent shot of this perfectly camouflaged insect and I suppose it id setting up its nest there to lay eggs. How did you spot it? Very impressive sharpness and colours with perfect lighting. Great POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Mariki,

Nice shot of this weird insect. Makes you wonder how something like this kind of reproductive behavior evolved.

Thanks,
John

Hello Marie,
Excellent capture of the strange insect.
It's so well camouflaged with the bark that I wonder ow you manged to spot it. I can not help you with the exact ID. But after going through the WS especially the second one, I think it looks similar to an insect photographed by my husband Anil . He has posted it in TN and I will give you the link :
http://www.treknature.com/viewphotos.php?l=3&p=112054
These small insects are seen during the onset of Monsoon and they are very attractive with their shiny cover and ofcourse they fly too :)
As for your picture, it is an excellent capture with good POV, focus, sharpness and details.
I hope you get the correct id.
TFS,
Smitha.

Dear Marie Christine,
a perfectly well detailed, precisely reported observation.
So very well camouflaged, very well seen. Thank you!
My best regards,
Peter

Hi Marie
You've captured this little scale so well. I love the detail and colours. Plus the note is very interesting. I find it amazing how well camouflaged this little insect is on the bark. Well done and great note.
TFS Janice

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