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Cottony Maple Scale
(Extension, Purdue University)

Common Name: Cottony Maple Scale

Order: Homoptera

Family: Coccidae

Pest Status: The cottony maple scale only becomes a pest in prized ornamentals or when population numbers become very high.

Appearance: Scales are usually noticed when the females produce an egg sac that appears as a 1/4-inch long ball of cotton. Heavy infestations can result in branches being turned completely white with egg sacs.

Life Cycle: Eggs are laid in late spring/early summer. Male scales complete development by fall and mate with immature females. The female scales migrate to stems and twigs to overwinter. In spring, the female reaches maturity and lays an egg sac.

Where to Collect: Scales are present on most hardwood trees, especially on the leaves and branches.