The long brown scale is a widespread species found in Europe, North America and tropical and sub-tropical countries. This sweet and watery excrement is fed on by bees, wasps, ants and other insects. The honeydew is also the medium on which a sooty fungus grows on called sooty mold.
Sooty mold blackens the leaf and decreases photosynthesis.
Damage due to the feeding of an individual scale is small. However, when large populations are present yellowing, defoliation, reduction in fruit set and loss in plant vigor are caused. The long brown scale is classified as a soft scale. These scales are protected by the chitinous body wall of the insect. Compared to the armored sales, they secrete very little wax.