The adult female scale is about 0.10 inch long, with a grayish, oval, waxy covering. The male scale is more elongate with a black spot at one end. If the coverings are removed, the scale bodies of both sexes are reddish purple.
Olive scale feeds on twigs, leaves, and fruits.
A later brood, in July and August, causes the pronounced purple spotting of green fruit, rendering it worthless. Heavy olive scale infestations will also occur on branches, twigs, and leaves. Such infestations substantially reduce the productivity of a tree. Chemical treatments are seldom required unless these parasites are eliminated due to other pesticide treatments. If olive scale was detected in the previous season or if chemicals are used in the orchard or on nearby crops, watch closely to detect crawlers moving onto fruit in spring and summer.