Abstract
The biology of Melanaspis obscura (Comstock) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) was investigated using a population on pin oak in Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1968–69. M. obscura is a univoltine species which overwinters on pin oak as 2nd-stage males and females. A figure is included which gives the seasonal occurrence of all stages. The obscure scale was found to be parasitized by 8 species of Hymenoptera and preyed upon by 14 species of mites and 3 species of coccinellids. Nine species of mites believed to be free living were found associated with the scale. The pink scale-fungus, Nectria diploa Berkeley and Curtis, was found attacking M. obscura. Crawler transfers from pin oak to red maple, silver maple, grape, and hickory were unsuccessful although the obscure scale is recorded in the literature from these hosts. The sexes of slide-mounted early 2nd instars can be distinguished, since females have a pair of submedian clusters of 7–14 long microducts each on the dorsum of the cephalic region just anterior to the prothorax, while males have a row of 10–16 long microducts on each side of the dorsal margin extending from the metathorax through the 1st abdominal segment.
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