Ceroplastes stellifer ( Westwood, 1871 )

Choi, Jinyeong, Soysouvanh, Pheophanh, Lee, Seunghwan & Hong, Ki-Jeong, 2018, Review of the family Coccidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in Laos, Zootaxa 4460 (1), pp. 1-62 : 20

Ceroplastes stellifer ( Westwood, 1871)

( Figs 14 , 15 )

Coccus stellifer Westwood, 1871 : iii.

Diagnosis. Body covered with translucent, star-shaped wax with 7 rays, and lacks a distinct dorsal horn at maturity ( Fig. 14A ). Dorsum with Ceroplastes - type pores not distinct; anal plates each with 3 apical or discal setae ( Fig. 15E ); and dorsal setae sharply spinose, sparsely present on dorsum except for clear areas ( Fig. 15A ). Marginal setae numbering 10–14 between anterior and posterior stigmatic clefts on each side ( Fig. 15H ). Stigmatic clefts distinct, each containing conical stigmatic spines arranged in a triangular area composed of about 4 rows ( Figs 14D , 15B ). Venter with multilocular disc-pores present abundant around vulvar area, less frequently present on anterior area of abdomen ( Fig. 15F ); interantennal setae numbering 14–20 ( Fig. 14C ); tubular ducts absent; antenna 6 segmented ( Figs 14E , 15K ); and legs each with tibia and tarsus fused ( Figs 14F , 15G ) (partially adopted from Hodgson & Peronti 2012).

Material examined. 28 ♀♀, LAOS, Chanthabouly Dist., Vientiane Capital, 28.x.2014, coll. J.Y. Choi, on Mangifera indica L. ( Anacardiaceae ).

Hosts. Polyphagous. According to García Morales et al. (2016), C. stellifer has been recorded from plants belonging to 41 genera in 22 families. In Laos, it has been recorded on Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) ( Soysouvanh & Hong 2016).

Distribution. All zoogeographical regions; Oriental Region ( India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) ( Soysouvanh & Hong 2016; García Morales et al. 2016).

Economic importance. Hamon & Williams (1984) noted that C. stellifer is a potential pest of citrus, mango ( Mangifera indica ) and diverse ornamental plants.

Remarks. Ceroplastes stellifer is easily recognized by the following morphological combination: (i) wax test star-shaped, with 7 rays at maturity; (ii) having 14–20 setae between the antennal bases, and (iii) legs with tibia and tarsus fused ( Hodgson & Peronti 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Ceroplastes stellifer (Westwood, 1871). A, population of females in life; B, slide-mounted adult female; C, interantennal setae; D, stigmatic spines; E, antenna; F, leg. Scale lines for B = 0.5 mm; C, D = 50 µm; E, F = 100 µm.

FIGURE 15. Ceroplastes stellifer (Westwood, 1871), adult female, from Hodgson & Peronti (2012). A. dorsal seta; B, stigmatic spine; C, simple microduct; D, Ceroplastes-type pores with 0–2 satellite loculi; E, anal plates; F, multilocular discpore; G, leg; H, ventral seta; I, cruciform pore; J, spiracular disc-pore; K, antenna.