When first hatched, the nymphs are known as "crawlers" and move to other parts of the plant, particularly the young growth beneath the leaf sheaths.

Female insects are roughly circular, the soft body being concealed under a slightly convex, greyish-brown or blackish test or scale.

[2] The primary host of Melanaspis glomerata is Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane).

The cumulative presence of so many insects sucking its sap weakens the plant and reduces the sucrose and dry matter content of the crop.

[2] Natural enemies of this scale include Rhyzobius lophanthae, Chilocorus cacti, and several other species of lady beetle, and the thrips Podothrips lucasseni.