Eriococcidae

Eriococcidae is a family of scale insects, commonly known as gall-forming scale insects or felt scales. These insects are small, ovate, and often covered in a waxy or felt-like secretion. They are found worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, and are often associated with plants of the family Ericaceae, though they can infest a variety of other plant families.

The most distinctive characteristic of erioccocids is their tendency to induce galls or swellings on their host plants. These galls can vary in size and shape and serve as protection for the developing scale insects. The life cycle typically involves an immobile adult female, which lays eggs under her protective covering. Nymphs hatch and disperse to new feeding sites, where they begin to form their own protective coverings and induce gall formation.

Eriococcidae species can cause economic damage to agricultural and horticultural crops by weakening host plants, reducing yield, and deforming plant parts. Some species are considered pests of fruit trees, ornamental plants, and forestry. Their control can be challenging due to their concealed feeding habits and the protective waxy layers they produce. Natural enemies, including parasitic wasps and predatory insects, play a role in regulating erioccocid populations.