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

Thrips, aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies occasionally appear, but can usually be controlled with a hard spray of water or insecticidal soap. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2025

Aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects are particularly fond of lemon cypress trees, but these pests are treatable. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2024

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

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