The obscure scale, Melanaspis obscura (Comstock), is native to North America 
and probably occurs in all Eastern States. The obscure scale is a serious pest of 
ornamental oaks. particularly pin oak and pecans. Other hosts reported in the 
literature are probably erroneous. The species occurs in natural and ornamental 
vegetation. The cover of the adult female is circular, slightly convex, grayish to 
black, and has shiny black subcentral shed skins. The body of the adult female is 
yellow after molting but changes to dark pink. The eggs are light pink. The male 
cover is similar to the female cover but is smaller, oval, with a subterminal shed 
skin. The body of the adult male is light brown. 
The obscure scale has one generation per year in Maryland (//70) and Louisiana 
(40). In Maryland. obscure scale populations on the white oak group of host species 
overwinter as crawlers, whereas on the red oak group of hosts, populations over- 
winter as second-instar males and females (//7/). In the spring adult females on 
red oaks first appear in late April, and egg deposition and hatching begin in late 
June. Overwintering second instars are first observed in mid-August. White oak 
populations molt to second instars in early May and are adults in mid-June. Egg 
laying and crawler emergence begin in early August. In Louisiana, the life history 
of populations on pecan is similar to that of red oak populations but is somewhat 
advanced chronologically. This scale infests the twigs, branches. and trunk of its 
host. Damage involves dieback of small-diameter branches, with the weakening of 
heavily infested trees. Pecan nut production may be reduced by this scale. Natural 
enemies include a large number of chalcidoid wasps, lady beetles, fungi, and mites. 
The gloomy scale, /. tenebricosa (Comstock), is indigenous to North America 
and is found in 19 Eastern States from New York to Florida and west to Missouri. 
Hosts include a number of important forest trees: the most commonly infested hosts 
are species of maples, particularly soft maples. The species is found in natural and 
ornamental vegetation. The cover of the adult female is circular, convex, dark gray, 
and has black subcentral shed skins. The body of the newly molted adult female is 
light yellow but turns pink with age. The cover of the male is similar to that of the 
female except that it is smaller and is oval with a subterminal shed skin. 
The gloomy scale in Maryland has one generation per year and overwinters as 
mated adult females (//68). Eggs and first instars first appear in late June and early 
July, and adults first develop in mid-August. North Carolina populations were 
found to be somewhat advanced chronologically (S54/). This scale is restricted to 
the twigs, stems, and trunks of its host. Natural enemies include several species of 
chalcidoid wasps and fungi. 
Other species of Melanaspis that might be found in eastern forests are M. 
nigropunctata (Cockerell) on many hosts including ash and dogwood from the 
District of Columbia, Maryland. and Virginia: and M. smilacis (Comstock) on 
many hosts especially smilax from eight States from Maryland to Florida west to 
Louisiana. 
The black pineleaf scale, Nuculaspis californica (Coleman), is apparently native 
to North America and is found throughout most of the United States. Hosts include 
Douglas-fir and most species of pine. This species is found in ornamental and 
natural vegetation. The cover of the adult female is oval, convex, black with light- 
gray margins, and has a yellow central area. Eggs are light yellow. The male scale 
cover is similar to the female’s but is smaller and more elongate. 
The black pineleaf scale has ane generation per year in northern areas and two in 
southern areas. Warm weather during the fall or early winter may allow some 
overwintering scales to complete their development and begin a new cycle (1/76). 
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