Ground pearl
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Description
A subterranean scale insect (Margarodes spp.) that infests the roots of turfgrasses 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 of the insect is the most likely structure to be encountered. The sphere is pink to yellowish-brown in color about the diameter to the size 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 Caroline State Extension: Ground Pearls in turf
- University of Florida: Ground Pearls