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
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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
See all Example Sentences for scale insect 
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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
See all Example Sentences for scale insect
Dictionary Entries Near scale insect
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“Scale insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scale%20insect. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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