Orthezia infest a wide range of
plants from mosses and fungi to grasses, woody shrubs and even small
herbaceous plants; it is most commonly found in tropical reagions on lantana and coleus.
Damage occurs as the insect feeds from the phloem
tissue of the plant. Copious amounts of honeydew are also produced as the
insect feeds; this promotes the growth of the black sooty mold fungus
covering the plant.
Biological control - a coccinellid predator
beetle (Hyperaspis pantherina) has proven successful in controlling this
scale insect in certain areas. But at times, especially on coleus, the
orthezia scale can become out of control. Effective chemical treatment
has not been documented, but a thorough spraying of an insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil may be successful.
On the positive side, orthezia
scale itself has been used as a biological control agent of the invasive
lantana shrub.
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