Oleander Pit Scale, Asterolecanium Pustulans (Cockerell)

Oleander pit scale was described by Cockerell (1892) as Asterodiaspis pustulans and was later placed in the genus Asterolecanium by Russell (1941). Several species in the genus Asterolecanium induce the host to form pits around the scales. Pit production is apparently governed by the susceptibility of the host and is so great in some hosts that the scale will be completely surrounded by host plant tissue.