Scale insect
![](/Images/godic/202501/05/Scale_insect4140.jpg")
![Armored scale insects:(A) Lepidosaphes gloverii, adult females. (B) Parlatoria oleae, adult females (circular, with dark spot) and immatures (oblong). (C) Diaspidiotus juglansregiae, adult female walnut scale with waxy scale cover removed.](/Images/godic/202501/05/Armored_scale_insects4140.png")
![Oystershell scale (Ceroplastes sp.), a waxy scale on young blueberry](/Images/godic/202501/05/Oystershell_scale_on_young_blueberry4140.JPG")
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. They comprise the superfamily Coccoidea, previously placed in the now obsolete group called "Homoptera". There are about 8,000 described species of scale insects.