It is also known from Cuba, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia and Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Zanzibar, India, the Philippines and Hawaii.

It was first detected in Florida in 1958, growing on ornamental pot plants, Dieffenbachia and Philodendron bipinnatifidum, and efforts were made to restrict its spread.

[1] Geococcus coffeae infests the roots of a number of different plant species including grasses, coffee, mango, palms, citrus, Cyperus, pineapple and Syngonium.

Examination of the root systems of plants in pots may reveal quantities of the wax that the insects secrete.

On hatching, the nymphs move a short way before piercing the roots with their mouthparts and starting to feed.