Brown Lecanium Scale (specifically Large Fruit Scale)

Found on the twigs, branches, and leaves of over 350 host plants, including deciduous fruit trees, shade trees, and woody ornamentals across temperate regions.

The insect uses piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the phloem sap of its host plant.

The visible dome is the protective waxy shell of the adult female. They are stationary once they reach adulthood. Females can lay over 1,000 eggs beneath their shells. First-instar 'crawlers' emerge and migrate to leaves to feed before returning to twigs to overwinter.

They are agricultural and garden pests. Heavy infestations can cause branch dieback, stunted growth, and premature leaf drop. They also excrete honeydew, which leads to the growth of unsightly black sooty mold on the foliage below.