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Key to Scale Insects
1. Body of insect protected with a wax or vanish-like covering that is not attached to the body of the insect; the insect can be seen by lifting off this covering (Fig 115) Armored scale insects...2
1.' Body of insect oval in top view, bare or covered with a clear glassy-type wax that adheres to the insect's body (Fig 116); infested plants often sticky with honeydew excreted by the insect. Soft scale insects. ......3
2. Scale covering of female brownish and oystershell shaped (Fig. 117A); male cover snow-white with three ridges down the back (Fig. 117B) Fern scale.
2.' Scale covering circular or oval, thin, flat, white to light yellow, semitransparent, and exuviae central or subcentral (Fig. 118A); male cover oblong oval, white, also with three ridges down the back (Fig.118B) Boisduval scale.
3. Mature individuals noticeably convex or hemispherical in side view (Fig. I19A), shiny brown in color; sometimes hundreds of eggs found under the body (Fig. 119B) Hemispherical scale.
3.' Mature individuals flat or only slightly convex in side view (Fig. 120); yellowish-green to black in color; no eggs found under body although a few crawlers may be present under the female ....4
4. Body yellowish-green to yellowish-brown in color; often mottled with brown spots (Fig. 121A) Brown soft scale.
4.' Body oval, opaque, reddish-brown, and 4 to 5 mm in length; the dorsal surface appears checkered or cellular in pattern when examined with a magnifying glass (Fig. 121B) Tessellated scale.
