INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



143 



THE SOFT BROWN SCALE 



Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus 



(Fig. 122) 



Description.— The full-grown females are oval, flat, soft, yellow or 

 light brown scales with a few dark markings on the very old ones. 

 The young are transparent and correspond well with the color of the 

 host. The male scales are 

 very slender, smaller and 

 lighter in color than the mature 

 females. The adult males are | 

 yellow and exceedingly minute 

 two-winged insects. 



Life History. — The young 

 are born alive in great numbers 

 and settle upon the leaves and 

 tender branches, where they 

 are often so crowded as to over- 

 lap. The life cycle covers from 

 three to five months, there 

 being several uneven broods a 

 year. 



Nature of Work. — The large 

 amount of black smut growing 

 upon the honey-dew secreted 

 by this scale usually calls at- 

 tention to its presence at once. 

 All stages of the females work 

 principally upon leaves near 

 the midribs and on the stems 

 and the smaller branches of the 

 hosts. In the case of citrus 

 trees it is usually more abun- 

 dant upon young trees not 

 more than four to six year old, 

 although it may be rarely 

 found upon very old ones. 

 This is in marked contrast to the attacks of the gray citrus scale which 

 infests the leaves and branches of young and old trees alike. 



Food Plants. — This species is exceedingly common and feeds upon 

 a large number of plants, including the following : aloe, apple, apricot, 

 ash, banana, box-elder, camellia, Ghavnc&dorea, citron, clematis, fig. 

 grape, grapefruit, Hibiscus, holly, India rubber, English ivy, jasmine. 

 Kentia, California laurel, laurel, lemon, locust, maple, morning-glory, 

 mulberry, myrtle, oleander, orange, date palm, peach, pear, phlox, plum, 

 poplar, prune, Reineckia carnea, rose, sago palm, Vinca and willow. 



Control.— Though not so difficult of control, the same measures arc 

 recommended as for the gray citrus scale. 



Natural Enemies.— Natural enemies undoubtedly play a large part 

 in keeping this scale from becoming a more serious pest. The internal 



Fig. 122. — The soft brown scale, Coccus 

 hesperidum Linn., on orange leaf. Enlarged 

 three times. < Original) 



