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Lecanochiton scutellaris Henderson & Hodgson

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Small button scale
[Lecanochiton scutellaris] - adult female (dark brown) and a new born crawler (yellow).

[Lecanochiton scutellaris] - adult female (dark brown) and a new born crawler (yellow).

The species name scutellaris means "a small shield" for the shape of the true dorsum or upper part. This scale can be found on leaves of  pōhutukawa trees growing near sheltered beaches, mainly in the northern half of the North Island.

Biology: apparently has more than one generation per year. The males have distinctive fluffy wax tops to their tests [covers] that look like tiny white sails. The button scales of New Zealand are unique in that their dorsal or upper part (the flat, oval piece in the middle of the scale) doesn't expand when adult. Instead, the venter or under part expands, and forms the outer sides. Small button scales are always found on the uppersides of leaves, never on the leaf undersides or stems, unlike pōhutukawa button scale.

Found on the upperside of leaves of:

Metrosideros excelsa pōhutukawa