Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Kānuka and mānuka

Kānuka. Image - Graeme Henderson

Kānuka. Image - Graeme Henderson

On kānuka [Kunzea ericoides] and mānuka [Leptospermum scoparium]

There are four different soft scale insects here:

<em>Crystallotesta leptospermi</em>. Left: young adult female, showing how its colour pattern mimics the leaf bud scales of the host plant kanuka. Right: old female. Her body has shrunk to a small dark lump at the head [head facing down the twig] after producing her young.

Crystallotesta leptospermi (Maskell)

Glassy mānuka scale
<em>Crystallotesta ornata</em>. Left: a young adult female. Right: a mature female; both are facing down the twig.

Crystallotesta ornatella Henderson & Hodgson

Small ornate scale
<em>Plumichiton pollicinus</em>. Left: young adult female, the upper middle part is of curled white wax layers, the flatter sides show her body colour through transparent wax plates. Right: mature female. Females always have their head-ends facing down the twig.

Plumichiton pollicinus Henderson & Hodgson

Thumbnail scale
<em>Umbonichiton bullatus</em>. Young adult female.

Umbonichiton bullatus Henderson & Hodgson

Knobbly scale