San Jose Scale vs Social Pear Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute San Jose Scale Social Pear Sawfly
Scientific Name Diaspidiotus perniciosus Neurotoma saltuum
Order Hemiptera Hymenoptera
Family Diaspididae Pamphiliidae
Size 1-2 mm diameter 10-12 mm
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Worldwide temperate regions Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

San Jose Scale

A tiny armored scale insect that forms gray encrustations on the bark and fruit of apple, pear, and stone fruit trees. It was one of the first pests to prompt quarantine legislation.

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Did You Know?

Its discovery in San Jose, California in 1880 led to the first plant quarantine law in the United States.

Social Pear Sawfly

A broad-bodied sawfly with long antennae whose larvae spin communal webs on pear and other fruit trees. Multiple larvae feed together within the silk nest.

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Did You Know?

The larvae build elaborate communal silk nests that can envelope entire branch clusters, creating conspicuous webbed masses on fruit trees.