These scales are protected by the chitinous body wall of the insect. Compared to the armored sales, they secrete very little wax. The body is usually smooth in outline, dome shaped, and brown, black or mottled in color. Soft scales retain their legs and antennae throughout adult life. Young females are primarily sedentary, but may move about for a brief time after feeding begins.
Females are always wingless and males either have one pair of membranous wings or are wingless also.
Reproduction is by eggs or the birthing of live young. EGGS Males have not been reported for this pest. The first stage nymphs are dispersive crawlers. The crawlers search until they find a suitable spot to feed from and then settle. The remaining immature stages do not move unless disturbed.