Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Coffee brown scale (066)

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Photo 1. Coffee brown scale on the stems of unidentified host, (possibly Pseuderanthemum whartonianum), Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Photo 2. Female coffee brown scale, Saissetia  sp., on a soursop fruit. The scales stay in place even after death.

Summary

• Worldwide distribution. On coffee, breadfruit, citrus, guava, soursop, ornamental plants, and especially cycads and ferns. It is reported from orchids. An important pest.
• The scale sucks sap causing wilts, distortions, and honeydew, on which fungi grow blackening leaves and blocking sunlight.
• Eggs are laid under the female; "crawlers" hatch and disperse by walking or on the wind. No males.
• Natural enemies: parasitoid wasps and predators.
• Cultural control: prune infested stems and fruits; adequate nutrition; destroy ant colonies encouraging natural enemies; remove low branches and weeds.
• Chemical control: priority is to remove ants to let natural enemies work. If needed, use soap, white or horticultural oils; use synthetic pyrethroids to kill ants.

Common Name

Coffee brown scale, hemispherical scale

Scientific Name

Saissetia species. There are several species of Saissetia recorded in Pacific island countries. However, the species most often recorded on Annona in the South Pacific is Saissetia coffeae. The description below is for that species.

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