For many years, pine tortoise scale was thought to be the dominate species. However, several years ago, taxonomic keys were published which permit specialists to distinguish between striped pine scale and pine tortoise scale. Since that time, most soft scale populations on pines have been identified as striped pine scale. Not much, since the biology and seasonal history of the two species is almost identical. Both striped pine scale and pine tortoise scale mature into adults in spring after overwintering as nymphs.
Females deposit eggs under their helmet-like, brown, black and tan mottled coverings.
When the pinkish tan crawlers emerge, those destined to become males will settle on the needles. Crawlers settling on the bark will all become females. These scales produce copious amounts of honeydew which attracts stinging insects and supports sooty mold growth. Both these secondary pests are undesirable in Christmas trees. Damage from white pine weevil is evident in Center, Luzerne, and Perry county sites.