Ethiopian cottony scale

The Ethiopian cottony scale (Pulvinaria aethiopica) is a member of the Coccidae family within the order Hemiptera. It is recognized as a significant pest of various woody plants, ornamentals, and subtropical fruit crops, often causing severe damage in greenhouses and nurseries.

This species primarily infests the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves. By inserting their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the plant tissue, both nymphs and adult females deplete essential nutrients, which can lead to stunted growth and branch dieback in heavily infested specimens.

The biological cycle involves an egg stage protected within a white, fluffy, cotton-like ovisac produced by the female. After hatching, the mobile first-instar nymphs, known as crawlers, disperse across the host plant or are carried by wind to new locations to initiate further feeding sites.

Damage is twofold: the physical extraction of sap and the production of large quantities of honeydew. This sugary secretion encourages the growth of sooty mold, which coats the foliage in a dark film, effectively blocking sunlight and inhibiting the plant's photosynthetic capacity.

• Strict quarantine measures for incoming plant material.
• Regular inspection of the underside of leaves and twigs.
• Application of systemic insecticides during the crawler activity period.
• Deployment of biological control agents, such as predatory beetles or parasitoid wasps.
• Pruning and destroying heavily infested branches to reduce population pressure.