

Species Description
A scale insect that feeds on more than 80 families of woody plants, most notably on Citrus.
Males are rare in hermaphroditic species of Icerya. Females have an ovitestis that is capable of producing both sperm and oocytes which fertilize internally to produce diploid offspring (females) through a form of hermaphroditism. The cells of the ovitestis are haploid and are derived from excess sperm during matings with males. This has been termed as 'parasitic tissue' and theoretical studies have examined this as a form of sexual conflict.
Species Details
FAMILY
Monophlebidae
GENUS
Monophlebidae
5 mm
LIFE SPAN
up to 4 weeks in warmer weather
HEMISPHERE
Both
ECOSYSTEM
tropical
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Sources
Main image by Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org - This image is Image Number 1435060 at Invasive.org, a source for images of invasive and exotic species operated by The Bugwood Network at the University of Georgia and the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine program., CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3173765
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icerya_purchasi#/media/File:Icerya_purchasi_1435060.jpg
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PEST