Marchalinidae

Sternorrhyncha • Hemiptera • insects (plant pests) • pests-diseases-weeds

Marchalina hellenica nymph (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Andrea Battisti, Universita di Padova
Source: IPM Images

Marchalinidae - Marchalina - (giant pine scales)

The family Marchalinidae and its only genus Marchalina Vayssière contain only 2 species, Marchalina hellenica and M. caucasica. The latter species is further often considered a synonym of M. hellenica. The insects are scale-like and infests the trunks and branches of pine, spruce and fir trees.

During their development, the females pass through 3 nymphal stages. The males have an additional pupal stage and the male adults are apterous. The females are elongated and elliptical, the antennae have 11 segments. The genus and family are mainly characterized by the morphology of the antennae, head, legs and abdominal spiracles.