Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mifsud, David, Mazzeo, Gaetana, Russo, Agatino & Watson, Gillian W., 2014, The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Maltese Archipelago, Zootaxa 3866 (4), pp. 499-525 : 503

Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus, 1758)

Another Neotropical introduction, first recorded by Borg (1898). Borg’s (1919; 1922a: 85) records of Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock represent misidentifications of C. rusci ( Ben-Dov et al., 2014) . Borg (1922a: 85) wrote that this scale “has been introduced in these islands probably towards 1905, and sometimes is common on the false pepper ( Schinus molle ) and on the quince, but has not been noticed on Citrus trees”. He also recorded it as rather rare on pear ( Borg, 1922a: 242) and on strawberry ( Borg, 1922a: 621). Borg (1932) stated that it was “very common on the common Fig ( Ficus carica ) and on the Custard Apple ( Annona cherimolia ), in both islands. It is also frequent on the Quince, the Vine and the Apple. It is rare on Citrus trees, the Pear, and on certain creepers, such as Ipomoea , Phaseolus caracalla , etc.” Saliba (1963) stated that this scale was very common on apple, citrus, fig, mulberry and pear. It was recorded again by Farrugia (1998) and Mifsud et al. (2012).

Material examined: MALTA, Żejtun, 10.iii.1994, 1 ♀ on Citrus limon, DM ; Żejtun, 11.iii.1994, 1 ♀ on C. sinensis, DM ; Chadwick lakes, 12.iii.1994, 2 ♀♀ on Ficus carica, GW ; Rabat 12.iii.1994, 3 ♀♀ on Pittosporum sp. , GW; Buskett, 24.iii.1994, 1 ♀ on Pistacia lentiscus, DM ; Mellieħa, 8.x.1994, 2 ♀♀ on Ficus carica, MS .