It is smooth, shiny and brown and closely adpressed to a stem or leaf, resembling a miniature military helmet.

The eggs hatch into first instars known as "crawlers", the only mobile phase in this species, which leave the shelter of the mother's scale to disperse.

When they have reached a suitable spot, they plunge their mouthparts into the plant, shed their skin and develop into second instar nymphs.

It produces copious amounts of honeydew which encourages the growth of sooty mould, and also causes leaf fall and the stunting of shoots on the host plant.

It is attacked by parasitoids, such as those that have been introduced in various parts of the world to control Saissetia oleae, a serious pest of olive trees.