vedalia

/ vɪˈdeɪlɪə /

noun

1. an Australian ladybird, Rodolia cardinalis, introduced elsewhere to control the scale insect Icerya purchasi, which is a pest of citrus fruits

Word History and Origins

Origin of vedalia¹

C20: from New Latin

Example Sentences

The vedalia beetle was brought in to the citrus orchards of California in the 1880s to take care of a serious pest, the cottony cushion scale.

From Washington Post

Then a parasite of the scale insect was imported from Australia, a small lady beetle called the vedalia.

From Literature

With the advent of DDT and the even more toxic chemicals to follow, the populations of the vedalia in many sections of California were wiped out.

From Literature

The vedalia can be maintained only by repeated releases and by the most careful attention to spray schedules, to minimize their contact with insecticides.

From Literature

Besides the vedalia beetles brought in by Koebele, other importations have been highly successful.

From Literature