Physokermes inopinatus Danzig & Kozár, 1973
hungarian spruce scale
on Abies, Picea
parasite
Fresh females are kidney shaped, bright yellow, but after the eggs have been deposited they are shining brown. Normally they are 5-8 mm in size, but in crowded populations that may not be more than 3 mm. They are attached to the shoots between the needles (contrary to Ph. hemicryphus and piceae that settle in the shoot axils). Male scales are numerous, on the upper side of the needles.
host plants
Pinaceae, oligophagous
Abies; Picea abies, glauca, sitchensis.
phenology
Univoltine; hibernation as 2nd instar larvae, on the needles.
distribution within Europe
notes
Like in most scales the damage is not primarily caused by the suction of sap from the plant but by the production of copious amounts of honeydew. The sooty moulds settling on the honeydew interfere with the photosynthesis.
references
Gertsson & Isacsson (2012a, 2014a), Gertsson & Winde (2014a).