When the female scale is mature, she fills her body cavity under the waxy covering with eggs and then dies. The eggs remain protected by the waxy covering until they hatch into small very active crawlers. These disperse and feed on various parts of the plant. As the young female scales increase in size, they lose their legs and remain fixed in one place, on a leaf or stem, feeding on sap. They remain in this place until they produce eggs and die.
Male scales are more mobile and can be winged or wingless.
Females may or may not need to mate for eggs to be produced. Descriptions and importance Table 1 provides a description of each species. This insect has never been an important pest of citrus in Western Australia or New South Wales but is an important pest in Queensland. The young scales are very vulnerable to high temperatures and low humidities, since most of the body is not protected by wax. Our hot, dry summers are probably the reason for its lessened pest status.