Due to the lapse of time for emergence of crawlers from a single generation and the overlapping of generations, several stages of development may be observed at the same time. In the spring, the females mature and produce eggs. This sequence occurs in March to April in North Carolina, later in the more northern parts of the scale's range. Crawlers move away from the parent, settle on a twig, and begin forming a white crystalline substance on their bodies. Shortly thereafter, males emerge from a pupal stage and fertilize the immobile, immature females.
Males have no functional mouthparts and soon die, leaving only females.
As the females continue to feed, they begin secreting honeydew which, in turn, hastens the development of the sooty mold fungi. In North Carolina the first generation of new females usually reaches maturity in late June to early July, and the cycle is repeated. Control Field scouting for the pine tortoise scale is important for successful control. Only by recognizing and monitoring the pest in its various life stages can proper measures be taken. Control of adult pine tortoise scales by insecticide sprays is difficult due to the relatively hard covering on the mature insect.