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Glite Dictionary
Aspidiotus perniciosus

Aspidiotus perniciosus

9.9
A small insect that damages fruit trees like apple and pear
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Aspidiotus perniciosus
  • The presence of Aspidiotus perniciosus can lead to significant crop losses in apple and pear trees.

Examples

  • The Aspidiotus perniciosus is a serious threat to apple orchards.

  • Researchers are studying ways to naturally combat Aspidiotus perniciosus infestations.

  • Farmers had to spray their orchards to control the spread of Aspidiotus perniciosus.

  • Farmers are concerned about the Aspidiotus perniciosus infestation.

  • Farmers had to spray their orchards to control the spread of Aspidiotus perniciosus.

  • The presence of Aspidiotus perniciosus can lead to significant crop losses in apple and pear trees.

  • Researchers are studying ways to naturally combat Aspidiotus perniciosus infestations.

Synonyms

San Jose scale
vsAspidiotus perniciosus
  • Specialized
9.3

A small insect from East Asia that damages fruit trees

is widespread beyond that country rather than only established in one country

Surface Forms

Aspidiotus perniciosus singular
Aspidiotus perniciosi plural

Morphology

Aspidiotus + perniciosus

This is a Linnaean binomial combining the genus name Aspidiotus (an armored scale insect) with a specific epithet. If a learner knows the genus and recognises the root of perniciosus (pernicious = harmful) they can infer it refers to a harmful/ pest insect, but scientific names function as proper nouns and the exact species identity and common‑sense meaning (a particular fruit‑tree pest) are not fully predictable to an average B1 learner without prior exposure or knowledge of Latin naming conventions.

Etymology

Aspidiotus perniciosus comes from old words that mean a small 'shield' and 'harmful'. The insect looks like a tiny round shield stuck to tree bark and it damages fruit trees, so the name gives a clear picture of a small, harmful pest.