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Quadraspidiotus ostraeiformis (Curtis),
Aspidiotus ostreiformis

Insecta, Homoptera, Diaspididae .

European fruit scale

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: female scale dark grey, flattened, rounded (1.8-2.2 mm across) (*) ; lentil-shaped; yellow to orange-red; head and thorax fused; last 4 abdominal segments forming a pygidium; male with antennae and legs, scale smaller than that of the female, oval and slightly tapered.
- Nymph: provided with legs and capable of moving a few cm to settle on plant organs; once it is established, it produces waxy secretions which form the scale; this scale is not linked to the body of the insect.
- Egg: arranged in clusters under the scale before hatching.

[R]Biology
This species bears close resemblance in morphology and biology to the northen yellow scale, Q. piri (Lichtenstein).
- The European fruit scale usually occurs on forest trees but also develops on apple, pear, currant and plum.
- Q. piri is present on apple, pear and sometimes on plum, peach and cherry. It is also a common pest of plane (Platanus).
- Adults of both sexes emerge in early spring. Egg-laying begins in May, the number of eggs laid usually amounting to 60. Hatching takes place between June and July, reaching a climax in late June.
- Nymphs develop in 3 stages, nymphs of the 2nd stage undergoing diapause during the winter.

[R]Life Cycle
- There is 1 generation per year.

[R]Damage
- Growth of affected plant cells is hampered by the feeding activity of the insects and the injection of a more or less toxic saliva; twigs become distorted.
- Twigs and branches (*) become dry and trees may die.
- The value of affected fruits is reduced (*) .

[R]Common Names
DE: Zitronenfarbene Austernschildlaus ES: Cochinilla ostreiforme FR: Cochenille ostréiforme IT: Cocciniglia grigia dei fruttiferi PT: Aspidioto ostreiforme GB: European fruit scale, Northern oystershell scale

[R] Images

  1. Quadraspidiotus ostraeiformis (Curtis) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Crusting on potato eye
  2. Quadraspidiotus ostraeiformis (Curtis) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Females on epidermis of apple
  3. Quadraspidiotus ostraeiformis (Curtis) (INRA Antibes)
    Colony on bark of apple The scale of male individuals is smaller and more elongate than that of females (arrowed).
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