Scale Insect

scale_insects_sm.jpg: Scale insects
scale_insects01_sm.jpg: Scale insects on a leaf
Range: North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand
Habitat: Woodlands, orchards, gardens, lawns
Conservation Status: Not listed by IUCN
Scientific Name: Lepidosaphes ulmi

When seen on the leaf or stem of a plant, a scale insect may look like a harmless white bump. But chances are, it's not harmless to the plant. All of the many types of scales can inflict serious damage to trees or smaller plants. They literally "suck the life" out of them by drinking the plants' sap.