Brown soft scale
Coccus hesperidum
46 host plants
Last updated
Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
On mahonia, camellia, dogwood, and other hosts you will find glossy brown hemispherical scales clustered on stems and leaf undersides. Heavy infestations coat stems with hundreds of scales, exuding abundant honeydew that becomes covered with sooty mold, blackening areas. Look for this pest in spring and early summer.
Prune and remove heavily infested branches or stems; simplest approach for landscape plants. Apply horticultural oil in March before new growth emerges to smother overwintering scales. If populations persist into summer, target crawlers in late May or June when mobile and vulnerable; oil or insecticidal soap most effective. Preserve parasitoid wasps and predatory beetles.
Quick Reference
Order
Hemiptera
Type
scale
Host Plants
46
Cultural Controls
- Prune and destroy heavily infested branches, when practical.
- Minor infestations may be wiped off by hand when practical.
- Ladybird beetles, parasitic wasps, and other natural enemies help control scale populations outdoors.
- Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill these beneficial insects.
Host Plants (46)
Atriplex hymenelytra Desert Holly Berberis aquifolium Oregon Grape, Oregon Grape Holly, Tall Oregon Grape Berberis pinnata California Barberry, California Holly Grape Camellia japonica Japanese Camellia Camellia sasanqua Sasanqua Camellia Cornus alba Tatarian Dogwood, Tartarian Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Cornus canadensis Bunchberry Cornus capitata Evergreen Dogwood, Bentham's Cornel, Himalayan Strawberry Tree Cornus controversa Giant Dogwood Cornus drummondii Rough-leaved Dogwood Cornus eddies Cornus eddies Cornus elwinortonii Cornus elwinortonii Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood Cornus mas Corneliancherry Dogwood Cornus nuttallii Pacific Dogwood Cornus officinalis Japanese Cornelian Dogwood Korean Cornelian Dogwood, Chinese Cornelian Dogwood Cornus porlock Porlock Dogwood Cornus racemosa Gray Dogwood, Red Panicle Dogwood Cornus rutgersensis Cornus rutgersensis Cornus sanguinea Bloodtwig Dogwood Cornus sericea Cornus sericea Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis Western Dogwood, Creek Dogwood Cornus stolonifera Redosier Dogwood Cornus torreyi Western Dogwood, Creek Dogwood Cornus venus Venus Dogwood Grevillea aquifolium Holly, Grevillea Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon Christmasberry California Holly Ilex aquifolium English Holly Ilex attenuata Ilex attenuata Ilex cornuta Chinese Holly, Horned Holly Ilex crenata Japanese Holly Ilex glabra Inkberry Inkberry Holly, Gallberry, Evergreen Winterberry Ilex latifolia Lusterleaf Holly Ilex meserveae Meserve Hybrid Holly Ilex paraguariensis Yerba Matá, Maté, Paraguay Tea Ilex verticillata Winterberrry Winterberry Holly, Michigan Holly, Christmas Berry Black Alder Olearia macrodonta Daisy, Bush, New Zealand Holly Osmanthus heterophyllus Holly Osmanthus Holly-leaf Osmanthus, Holly Tea Olive Pseudotsuga macrocarpa Bigcone Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir Blue Douglas-fir Inland Douglas-fir Colorado Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga wilsoniana Taiwan Douglas-fir Quercus ilex Holly, Oak, Holm Oak