San Jose scale is the most important scale pest of pipfruit in New Zealand. It particularly affects apples and pears in the large fruitgrowing regions of Nelson and Hawkes Bay. It originates from northern China and was first recorded in New Zealand in 1909. It has spread throughout the North Island and the northern districts of the South Island. It is of limited occurrence in Canterbury and Otago. Oystershell scale is the major scale pest in the south but San Jose scale may still be spreading and increasing in importance in the southern regions.