Ground pearl

Ground pearls; Image credit: UF Entomology and Nematology Dept.

Description

A subterranean scale insect (Margarodes spp.) that infests the roots of turf grasses in the warm sandy soils of coastal plains of Australia and the southern USA. Ground pearls excrete a waxy covering that completely surrounds their body, with the exception of their piercing-sucking mouthparts. The voided, waxy, spherical covering is the most likely structure to be encountered. It is pink to yellowish-brown in color about the diameter of a grain of sand. The insects are considered pests, but the clusters of shells have an iridescent covering that has been used for ornaments.

Synonyms and Related Terms

earth pearls; pearl scale

Resources and Citations

• North Carolina State Extension: Ground Pearls in turf

• University of Florida: Ground Pearls