Soft, oval, and usually covered with a white or gray mealy wax. Closely related to soft scales. Overwinter as nymphs or eggs. Adult males are winged but only live a few days and are rarely seen. Suck plant juices and produce honeydew like scales and aphids. Feed in dense colonies which appear as white, sticky clusters when populations are high. Reproduction can be rapid when natural predators are not present. Many ornamental tree and shrub species in addition to other greenhouse plants. During heavy infestations large amounts of wax and honeydew are produced and coat plants. Black sooty mold is also usually associated with the honeydew. Some plants may drop their leaves and become stunted or even die if the infestation is severe.