Soft scales

Scientific name:
(Homoptera: Coccidae) about 85 species in North America

Facts: Female soft scales are elongate and usually convex. They have a smooth hard exoskeleton or are covered with wax. Females usually have legs and the antennae are reduced or absent. Males may be winged or wingless.

The brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus, is pictured here. Also included in this family are wax scales and tortoise shell scales.

Photo credit: Bastiaan (Bart) Drees, Extension Entomology, Texas A&M University