Description
Flocculent flax scales live on the underside of host plants often in colonies. Clusters of white flocculent (soft and looking like wool) wax makes visual identification easy. The female has a bright yellow body that is often coated with white flocculent wax.
Flocculent flax scales are often mistaken for mealybug, which are known to live in their old colonies. Sometimes both pests may be present.
Common native plant hosts
| Scientific names | Māori/common names |
|---|---|
| Arthropodium spp. | Rengarenga lily, rock lily |
| Cordyline spp. | Tī kōuka, cabbage tree, tī |
| Libertia spp. | New Zealand iris, mīkoikoi |
| Phormium tenax, Phormium cookianum | Flax, harakeke, wharariki, kōrari, swamp flax, mountain flax |
Scientific names
Arthropodium spp.
Māori/common names
Rengarenga lily, rock lily
Scientific names
Cordyline spp.
Māori/common names
Tī kōuka, cabbage tree, tī
Scientific names
Libertia spp.
Māori/common names
New Zealand iris, mīkoikoi
Scientific names
Phormium tenax, Phormium cookianum
Māori/common names
Flax, harakeke, wharariki, kōrari, swamp flax,
mountain flax
mountain flax
Symptoms and damage
Adult females and juvenile scales are sucking insects. Feeding damage causes leaves to turn yellow and patches can be seen from the upper side of leaves.
Flocculent flax scale can cause significant damage to small flaxes and cause fungal infections in plants.
Prevention and control tips
- Chemical insecticides.
- Plant soap.
- Spray oil.
Natural predators
- Armoured scale ladybird.
- Flax scale eating caterpillar.
- Flocculent scale ladybird.
- Parasitoid wasps.
- Steelblue ladybird.