[2][3][4] Adult and young females of this species are nearly circular, the insect being hidden under a tough flattish scale composed of the exuviae from the first two nymphal instars.

It has been found on at least forty genera of ornamental and forest trees and bushes,[5] including walnut, maple, liquidambar, tuliptree, boxwood, camellia, dogwood, holly, cherry, peach and plum.

[6] Second instar nymphs and adult females of this species pierce twigs and branches with their mouthparts and suck sap from the inner bark of the host tree.

If there are large numbers of scales, the tree may become water stressed; soft shoots may droop, inner tissues may die back, and the bark may crack.

A more serious consequence of infestation by the scale is that it may allow entry of pathogenic funguses of the genus Botryosphaeria, which can cause cankers, dieback and tree death.