scale insect

noun

: 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

If the bumps on your basil stem do not rub off easily and are not associated with honeydew (a sticky, clear residue), then scale insects are not likely. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2024

The Malaysian insect counterintuitively doesn’t target the ants, but rather a scale insect that the ants depend on for their food source. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 11 July 2024

These sprays are great for controlling mites, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and hard scale insects. —Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024

Common Pests & Plant Diseases If there are concave yellow spots on the leaf surfaces, white, cotton-like patches on the leaf backs, or pink nodules on the branches, it is likely caused by scale insects. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scale insect

noun

: any of numerous small insects related to aphids and including many destructive plant pests in which the males have wings, the females are scale-covered and are often permanently attached to a host plant, and the young suck the juices of plants