How to recognize and eliminate lice or scale insects on fruit

Lice, or scale insects, are insects belonging primarily to the order Hemiptera, which includes numerous species from the families Diaspididae, Coccidae, Pseudococcidae, and other scale insect families. They are small, phytophagous insects that feed by sucking sap from plant tissues using specialized mouthparts. Depending on the group, adult females may remain practically immobile and be protected by a waxy covering, a hardened scale, or cottony secretions, while adult males are usually small and mobile, with a primarily reproductive function. Females may lay eggs under their protective covering or directly produce juvenile forms. After hatching, nymphs emerge, which are especially mobile during the first instar, known in many groups as dispersal stages. These nymphs seek suitable tissues to feed on and subsequently settle, passing through different stages until reaching maturity. In some species, several generations can occur per year, especially under warm conditions. Populations can persist on the plant for extended periods and increase progressively, while forms protected by shields, waxes, or secretions are more difficult to reach with phytosanitary treatments. Dispersal can occur through mobile individuals, wind, contact between plants, and the transport of infested plant material.