Apart from tea (Camellia sinensis), the host plants include a range of trees and shrubs, both ornamentals and crops.

[4] It is now widely distributed in the Americas and has been recorded in most eastern and south-central states of the U.S., up to Texas and Kansas in the west and Indiana, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in the north.

During heavy infestations, white wax secretions become abundant, giving the infected leaf a whitish appearance.

The eggs laid by female scales hatch after 1–3 weeks and the crawlers disperse by moving to other parts of the host plant or spread by wind.

[2][4][3] In North America, ornamental Camellia and Ilex species experience the most serious damage from Fiorinia theae infestations.

In other regions, damage on tea, citrus, dogwood, bottlebrush, kumquat, mango, and olive trees can be also significant.

[4] Extensive infestations by the scale insect causes yellowing of the leaves, premature leaf drop and branch dieback, up to death of the host plant.

For example, in the south-eastern U.S. several non-native species like Camellia japonica or Ilex cornuta are highly susceptible to the scale insect and are often heavily infested.

[6] Fiorinia theae infests the lower leaf surface of its host plant, making spraying with pesticides less effective.