San Jose scale
- noun
- /sæn hoʊˈzeɪ skeɪl/
- Specialized
:
escama de San José
- The San Jose scale can quickly infest and damage apple orchards if left untreated.
Examples
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Orchard owners often inspect trees for signs of San Jose scale infestations in early spring.
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Proper management is essential to control the spread of San Jose scale among fruit trees.
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The San Jose scale can damage fruit trees significantly.
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Farmers are worried about the San Jose scale infestation.
-
Orchard owners often inspect trees for signs of San Jose scale infestations in early spring.
-
Proper management is essential to control the spread of San Jose scale among fruit trees.
-
The San Jose scale can quickly infest and damage apple orchards if left untreated.
Synonyms
A small insect that damages fruit trees like apple and pear
Surface Forms
Morphology
San + Jose + scale
This is a vernacular species name formed from a place-name ('San Jose') plus a common noun ('scale'), and the intended sense (a specific small pest insect) is not predictable from those parts. 'Scale' is ambiguous (measuring device, fish/animal covering, or the technical term 'scale insect'), and a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably infer the taxonomic/pest meaning, so the expression is opaque.
Etymology
San Jose scale may come from the American city San Jose, where people first noticed this insect in the United States. The word scale describes the tiny, flat shells the insects make on tree bark, so the name tells us it is a 'pest' that can damage fruit trees.
