Photo by Drees. Other species of wax scales occur in the state. In addition, there are a number of other scale insects in Texas. However, none resemble this group of species in shape or size. The winter is spent as adult females.
Males are very rare or unknown for some species.
Eggs are oval and orangish, and fill the inside of the female scale insect. Eggs hatch in about 3 weeks over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. After settling, nymphs begin to secrete wax in tufts around the body that give these scale insects a star-like appearance. There may be two or more generations per year. Wax scales infest ficus, gardenia, hawthorne, holly, ornamental pear, pyracantha and other landscape trees and shrubs.