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Parasaissetia nigra

Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner)

<em>Parasaissetia nigra</em>. Two adult females and some settled crawlers (pale yellow-green). [Photo: DSIR].

Parasaissetia nigra. Two adult females and some settled crawlers (pale yellow-green). [Photo: DSIR].

Nigra scale

Nietner named this species nigra, meaning black, in 1861.

Status in New Zealand: an exotic (adventive) species, first recorded here in 1879. Not important economically. It is often attended by ants feeding on honeydew. Not found on native plants.

Biology: probably one generation per year. Nigra scale is parthenogenetic and there are no males.

Found on the stems and leaves of:

'broom', Chrysanthemoides monolifera [boneseed], Citrus, Daphne sp., Feijoa sellowiana, Ilex sp. [holly], Iris germanica [flag iris], Prunus armeniaca [apricot].