The Grenade Scale (Cerococcus Deklei Kosltarab & Vest)

Grenade scale, the common name preferred by the Division of Plant Industry, also called hand-grenade scale, hibiscus scale, and hibiscus hand-grenade scale, was collected on Acalypha sp. And Hibiscus sp. By L. J. Daigle, extension agent, and R. I. McMillan, former Division of Plant Industry plant specialist, at Miami, Florida, in 1962. The specimens were described as a new species of Asterolecaniidae (pit scales) in 1966 by Dr. Michael Kosztarab and Dennis F. Vest, Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia. Since the original collection the scale has now been recorded in Florida on 12 genera of host plants and is considered established in eight counties.