minute cypress scale

Carulaspis minima grows to a maximum length of about 1.8 mm (0.07 in). The scale covering the adult female is circular and convex, white with a yellowish-brown central portion; the female nymph is similar, but smaller. The adult male has an elongate whitish scale with the yellowish-brown remnants of the exuviae on the posterior end. The male nymph has a whitish felt-like appearance with longitudinal ridges. It is very difficult to distinguish it from the juniper scale (Carulaspis juniperi).

The adult female scale overwinters on the host tree and lays a batch of eggs which are retained under the scale. These hatch into "crawlers", nymphs which are mobile and move to other parts of the plant. After shedding their skin for the first time, the nymphs settle down and grow through the summer. After reaching adulthood they mate, after which the males die. In California there are one or two generations in the year.