This covering is not an integral part of the insect s body, but the scale lives and feeds under this cover that resembles a plate of armor, hence the name. The female armor is larger than that of the male, while the shape and color may be similar to distinctly different, depending upon the particular species. Three hundred fifty species of armored scales occur in the United States and about 175 species are present in Florida. Examples of armored scales are the tea scale , Florida red scale , false oleander scale , oleander pit scale and white peach scale . Soft scales also secrete a waxy covering but it is an integral part of their body.
Soft scales vary widely in color, size, and shape.
Eighty-five species of soft scales occur in the United States with 60 species in Florida. Examples of soft scales are hemispherical scale , green scale , pyriform scale and Florida wax scale . Soft scales excrete large amounts of honeydew, which provides an excellent medium for the growth of a black fungus called sooty mold. Armored scales do not secrete honeydew. Many species of scales are highly parasitized by tiny wasp parasites.