Hemispherical Scale

Hemispherical Scale

Saissetia coffeae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Lima

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%

10 Verified sightings at Lima
February Best month

About the Hemispherical Scale

Saissetia coffeae, known generally as hemispherical scale, is a species of soft scale insect in the family Coccidae. Other common names include the helmet scale and coffee brown scale. The adult scale varies in diameter from about 2 mm (0.08 in) to 4.5 mm (0.18 in), largely depending on the identity of the host plant. It is smooth, shiny and brown and closely adpressed to a stem or leaf, resembling a miniature military helmet. Young scales often have a slightly ridged surface, sometimes in the form of a "H". Like other scale insects, the hemispherical scale has no limbs and is immobile, piercing the plant tissues with its mouthparts and feeding on sap.

Saissetia coffeae is present in West, Central and East Africa, Madagascar, tropical and subtropical Asia, North, Central and South America and the Caribbean region. All hemispherical scale insects are female, and breeding occurs by parthenogenesis. The eggs are pinkish-beige, oblong and about 0.7 mm (0.03 in) long. Up to a thousand eggs are laid, and they remain concealed under the scale husk, the parent dying soon after they are laid. The eggs hatch into first instars known as "crawlers... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Lima 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
2 Auckland 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
3 Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
4 Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan
<5%
5 São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
6 Miami 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Singapore 🇸🇬 Singapore
<5%
8 San Francisco 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 San Diego 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
10 Los Angeles 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Hemispherical Scale in Lima?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hemispherical Scale sighting in Lima on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 62nd most-seen of the 95 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Hemispherical Scale in Lima?

February, April–July and October–December

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hemispherical Scale in Lima on a given day, against under 5% in January, March and August–September, the lowest months.

Is Lima the best place to see a Hemispherical Scale?

Yes

Of the 10 cities where we can rate Hemispherical Scale sightings, Lima has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Auckland (New Zealand, under 5%) and Buenos Aires (Argentina, under 5%).

Where does the Hemispherical Scale sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Hemispherical Scale is recorded against all the insects logged in Lima (10 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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