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scale insect
nounDefinition of scale insect
: any of numerous small prolific homopterous insects (superfamily Coccoidea) that have winged males, wingless scale-covered females attached to the host plant, and young that suck the juices of plants and some of which are serious pests
Examples of scale insect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Legions of professional entomologists fret about sawflies, ambrosia beetles, scale insects and leafhoppers. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "Learning to live with — even enjoy — insects in the garden," 7 Aug. 2019 They are known to feed on fungus, particularly the mildew type and possibly arthropods such as mites, aphids, and scale insects. — oregonlive.com, "Ask an Expert: What’s the best fertilizer for tomatoes?," 26 July 2019 Cochineal, created by crushing up Dactylopius coccus, a species of scale insect, is safe to handle and consume, but its safety is trumped in the minds of some by its animal origin. — The Economist, "A team of chemists are searching for a new red pigment," 11 July 2019 Stay alert for mites and scale insects to wash off as needed. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Most tomatoes won't grow in summer in Florida," 7 July 2018 Your plant has been invaded by scale insects that may be yellow, green or brown in color, which makes them hard to see. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Prune blueberry bushes after fruiting," 23 June 2018 Check for summer pests of mealybugs and scale insects; control with natural sprays 85. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "July in the garden," 30 June 2018 The list includes nutria and feral hogs, which damage thousands of wetland acres every year, and the Asian scale insect decimating the coast's roseau cane. — Tristan Baurick, NOLA.com, "Controversial plan to farm Russian sturgeon in Louisiana moves ahead," 7 Apr. 2018 Check for scale insects, and if needed, apply a natural control. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Poor root system hinders plant growth," 19 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scale insect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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