It is often regarded as a pest of these crops, a vector of phytoplasma diseases and a biosecurity risk in countries outside its distribution range.

[12] The colour is predominantly black, but the legs, antennae, facial ridges and the rostrum are yellowish to light orange.

The ridges on the mesonotum and the clypeus are whitish to light yellow and the body has scattered white dots.

[22][12] Proutista moesta is predominantly black, except for the legs, the antennae, the upper parts of the facial ridges and the rostrum which are yellowish to light orange.

[12][15][20] Like for other members of the family Derbidae, the immature stages of Proutista moesta have been associated with decaying organic matter and apparently feed on fungi.

[17] In Australia, it is regarded as a biosecurity risk, apparently mainly due to its ability to harbour phytoplasma diseases.

[19] However, apart from recording the seasonal frequency, there does not seem to be any information on the impact of the insect on the growth or yield of its host plants.

[16][26] However, a transmission trial also provided evidence that P. moesta is a vector of phytoplasma diseases in coconut palms.

Males of both species can be reliably separated by the structure of their abdominal tip, that is the morphology of the anal segment, the parameres and the aedeagi (see the illustration on the right).

[15][12] In contrast, the aedeagus of Proutista fritillaris has three large pointed and slightly curved processes, directed upwards and forward.