Camellia (Camellia)-Brown soft scale

Coccus hesperidum

Pest description and damage Scale insects are small (less than 0.125 inch in length) soft insects that live beneath waxy scales. These insects are often identified by the shape and size of their scales, the description of adult males and females, immature crawler stage, color of eggs, and host plant preferences. Brown soft scales are flat, yellowish to dark brown, somewhat mottled insects that range from 0.1 to 0.2 inches in length. They are found on twigs, although young scales also may be found on the foliage, typically on the underside of leaves and along veins. Scale insects suck plant sap and produce copious honeydew on which sooty mold may grow. Brown soft scale has a wide host range. There are multiple generations per year.

Management--biological control

There are numerous parasitoids that control this scale if left alone. Occasionally an outbreak occurs, but parasitoids will find it and the population will crash.

For biology, life history, monitoring and management

See "Scale insect" in:

Management-chemical control

See Table 1 in:

For more information

Anon. 2008. UC Pest Management Guidelines for managing brown soft scale on citrus (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301311.html)