Kalasiris depressa (Maskell)
Glassy coprosma scale
William Maskell named this species in 1884.
The back half of the test is acting as a brood chamber, providing shelter for the young crawlers (fawn colour) before they go out from under the edge of the test and disperse to new settling sites.
Biology: one generation per year. Females mature and produce their young in Spring, and males develop on the similar leaves. The tiny winged adult males live for only a few days, long enough to mate with females.
Found on the undersides of leaves of:
Coprosma arborea | māmāngi |
Coprosma colensoi | |
Coprosma foetidissima | hūpiro / stinkwood |
Coprosma rhamnoides | |
Coprosma sp. |