The Kermes Scale is a Homopteran, which feeds on trees such as Laurel, Live, or Water Oaks. While it is a nymph, it is very vulnerable to insecticide as a crawler. After a period of time, it develops a waxy cover to help protect it, and becomes more difficult to kill. The Kermes Scale causes significant damage to trees by sucking their juices from the leaves. This creates a gall, or protective cover around the Scales, but it also causes damage to the trees.