Red Scale
Aonidiella auranti
Red Scale, Scale Bug, California Red Scale
Aonidiella aurantii by VictorCegarra (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Aonidiella aurantii by VictorCegarra (CC BY-SA 4.0)
1 of 4
Aonidiella aurantti or Red Scale are an insect pest found commonly on Citrus species. The females are brownish-red in colour and oval in shape. When moulting, they become more kidney-shaped. The males are similar until they get to the second moult. They then become darker than the females and are yellow in colour.
Traits

Suck sap out of plants. Can cause discolouration, leaves to drop and shoots to be distorted.
Symptoms
Discoloured leaves or fruit is a sign that you may have red scale insects. Leaves dropping off and shoots being distorted.
Tree bark can also split and the branches can die back which can cause the whole tree to die.
Activity
Diurnal
Personality
Order
Hemiptera
Family
Diaspididae
Metamorphosis
Complete
Distribution
Worldwide
Biological treatment
Cut back branches that have the insects on and destroy them to stop it from spreading any further.
Ants can cause an increase of scale insects as they spread them further around, so if you notice ants around your plant it is a good start to try to control ant populations.
Chemical treatment
As they have a hard waxy cover they are difficult to kill with pesticides. They are also becoming resistant to insecticides so it is very difficult to get rid of them through chemical use.
Attracts
Citrus plants
Citrus
Citrus spp.
Persian Lime
Citrus latifolia
Lemon Tree
Citrus x limon
Round Kumquat
Citrus japonica
Australian Finger Lime
Citrus australasica
Pomelo
Citrus maxima
Citron
Citrus medica
Butterwort
Pinguicula moranensis
Sweet Orange
Citrus sinensis 'Washington Navel'
Lemon 'Eureka'
Citrus limon 'Eureka'
Makrut Lime
Citrus hystrix
Willowleaf Mandarin
Citrus deliciosa
Yuzu
Citrus junos