A Technical Report from The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
Scales are insects that use their needle-like mouthparts to pierce their host and draw food from nutrient-rich tissues just under the bark or outer surface of foliage. Obscure scale (Melanaspis obscura) is an armored scale in the family Diaspididae. Armored scales form a hard, protective layer over their bodies while feeding, and they are more difficult to manage than other scales. Obscure scale attaches to the bark of the trunk and large stems, and has many potential hosts including dogwood (Cornus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), hickory (Carya spp.), and more. Obsucre scale is distributed throughout the United States.