This insect will cause leaf curling on the outer leaves. The thrips can be found by unfolding any curled leaves. Tarsi usually 1-segmented, with 1 claw, or legs absent. Females wingless, often also legless, and usually with a waxy or scale-like covering. Most scale seen in the field will appear as small waxy ovals on the underside of the leaf.
Subsequent instars are less active and are often sessile.
Legs and antennae of sessile scale insects are lost a t the 1st molt, and the insect becomes covered with a scale-like covering. Most are plant feeders, usually on greenhouse plants or shrubs. Many scale insects are serious pests of cultivated plants, particularly orchard trees, shrubs, and many greenhouse plants, and when numerous may kill the plant. Mites are really not even truly insects. They are in the same Phylum, but in a different class known as Arachnida.