False Oleander Scale Pseudaulacaspis Cockerelli (Cooley)

False oleander scale, an armored scale, was first found in Florida at Meade Gardens, Winter Park, Orange County, by J. R. Springer on sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana L.) in 1942. This scale formerly was referred to as magnolia white scale (Phenacaspis natalensis Ckll.) and oleander scale (Phenacaspis cockerelli (Cooley)). In 1953, G. B. Merrill reported the distribution in Florida as Orange and Leon counties and the known hosts as: banana shrub (Michelia fuscata (Andr.) Blume), bird-of-paradise (Strelittzia spp.), oleander (Nerium oleander L.), a palmetto (Sabal mexicana Mart.), and sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana L.).