Coccomorpha

Coccomorpha is a major grouping of scale insects within the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. In many classifications it is treated as an infraorder or clade within the superfamily Coccoidea. The group includes the best-known scale insect families, such as the armored scales (Diaspididae), soft scales (Coccidae), and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), as well as several other related families of wax-producing, sap-sucking insects.

Description and biology: Members are sap-feeders with a protective waxy or scale-like covering. They typically have a sessile adult female stage and mobile first-instar nymphs (crawlers) that disperse to new hosts. Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism, with winged males and wingless females, while others reproduce without fertilization. Development passes through several instars, and life cycles can involve host changes and complex timing.

Ecology and economic importance: Coccomorpha species inhabit a wide range of plants, including crops, fruit trees, and ornamentals. They are among the most economically significant pests in agriculture and horticulture due to feeding damage, honeydew secretion that fosters sooty mold, and the scaling mass itself. Some members are beneficial or economically valuable, most notably lac insects (such as Kerria lacca) that produce shellac, and various species engage in mutualisms with ants.

Taxonomy and phylogeny: The delimitation of Coccomorpha has varied across classifications. Modern approaches generally treat it as a clade or infraorder within Sternorrhyncha, uniting most scale insects. Molecular and fossil evidence help clarify relationships within the group and with related hemipteran lineages.