Brown Soft-scale - Coccus hesperidum

The adult female Coccus hesperidum is oval, flattish, translucent pale-yellow to yellow-brown, often mottled with brown spots; body length up to 5 mm and width 2.5 mm. Adult males, however, resemble small flies but never feed and die within a day or two of emergence.

This species is broadly polyphagous and often a serious pest of ornamental and crop plants in Britain. Although it is most commonly recorded on indoor plantings it also frequently occurs outdoors, particularly on bay laurel and ivy.

May be observed throughout the year on woody hosts.

See under ‘Description’

Fairly frequent in Britain but little recorded.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.