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Australian Wildlife

  Rose scale (Aulacaspis rosae)





Rose scale | Aulacaspis rosae photo
Rose Scale - sedentary males are white with ribbed texture

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Rose scale | Aulacaspis rosae photo
Rose scale - heavy infestation on rose stem

Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.







ROSE SCALE FACTS

Identification
Rose Scale is a hard scale. The adult females are white and flat. The males have two forms - sedentary males are long and flat with ribbed texture and are white; winged males are slightly smaller and orange-red with a spine protruding from the rear. Heavy populations of rose scale reduce flowering, stunt growth and in severe cases can cause plant death. Females have two nymph stages, and males have four stages.

Size
Females 2mm - 2.5mm. Males 0.8mm long.

Habitat
found on stems and branches of roses and related plants

Food
feeds on sap from stems of roses, raspberries, loganberries, and blackberries

Breeding
Females lay a batch of around 40 eggs. Pale-red nymphs or crawlers appear in spring



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Hemiptera
Family:Coccidae
Genus:Aulacaspis
Species:rosae
Common Name:Rose scale