Hodges, G.S. 2001 . Life history information (including degree-day relationships) and taxonomy of scale insects found in the urban landscape. University of Georgia, Ph.D. thesis. 122 pp.

Notes: [Ph.D. thesis; Kristine Braman, advisor.] Scale insects are common plant feeding insects found throughout the world. Economic losses attributed to scale insects have made research on taxonomy, life histories and control measures vital to ornamental plant growers, landscaping contractors, county agents and the general public. Taxonomy is the first tool used when examining a pest insect. Taxonomic work on the immature stages of Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), Diaspis boisduvalli Signoret, Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius) and the report of a new species of Aclerda lend additional information to better aid in the understanding of the Coccoidea. In addition to the taxonomic treatments of the above species, pictorial keys for the scale insect families, the soft scales and the armored scales were developed to aid the layman in field identification of scale insects. Calendar dates, degree-day accumulations, phenological indicators and natural enemies were monitored for five species of scale insects occurring in the urban landscape of Georgia. This is the first comprehensive work incorporating calendar dates, degree-days and phenological indicators for scale insects in the Southeastern United States. Experiments were also conducted involving the interaction of argentine ants (Linepithema humile (Mayr)) with populations of Indian wax scale (C. ceriferus), Florida wax scale (C. floridensis Comstock) and tea scale (Fiorinia theae Green). Data did show that the presence of the ants did have a significant affect on the predators and parasitoids for all species. Host preference for the Florida wax scale on Ilex species was conducted on 231 species, hybrids and selections. Results indicated that Ilex buergeri, I. crenata, I. glabra, I. integra, I. myrtifolia, I. verticillata and I. vomitoria supported smaller populations of the scale insect. This suggests that growers may want to attempt to use these selections for urban landscapes to avoid high populations of the scale insect.