Ceroplastinae

Hodgson, Chris J. & Peronti, Ana L. B. G., 2012, 3372, Zootaxa 3372, pp. 1-265 : 26-27

Key to species-groups of wax scale insects ( Ceroplastinae ) known from the Afrotropical Region based on adult female morphology.

1. Each stigmatic cleft with 2 types of spinose stigmatic setae, those on margin (actually on venter) sharply spinose and those on dorsum roundly conical.............................................................. Waxiella species (p. 197)

- Each stigmatic cleft with only 1 type of stigmatic setae, all on dorsum (although in the C. brachystegiae -group, the spinose marginal setae extend along the margin of each cleft but do not form a discrete group) … Ceroplastes species. ........... 2

2. With a total of more than 11 setae between antennae …Group N........................... C. stellifera- group (p. 154)

- With only 1 or 2 (rarely 3) pairs of setae between antennae..................................................... 3

3. Spiracular disc-pores with mainly 8–10 loculi; dorsal setae club-shaped, narrowing towards base; on oldest females, stigmatic setae in an extremely long group (about 5 times longer than wide) extending onto dorsum … Group H............................................................................................ C. madagascariensis -group (p. 75)

- Spiracular disc-pores with mainly 5–7 loculi; dorsal setae rarely club-shaped (except C. cirripediformis and perhaps C. destructor ); if stigmatic setae in a group extending onto dorsum, each group never more than about 2 or 3 times longer than wide................................................................................................ 4

4. Ventral tubular ducts in a broad, compact submarginal band, each duct with a very short, swollen inner ductule; multilocular disc-pores extending anteriorly onto thorax and present mesad to each coxa … Group F......... C. floridensis -group (p. 61)

- Ventral tubular ducts never in a broad submarginal band; when tubular ducts present submarginally, not in a compact band and each either with a long thin inner ductule or with inner ductule absent; multilocular disc-pores rarely extending anteriorly onto thorax............................................................................................... 5

5. Marginal setae all robustly and sharply spinose, extending not only around margins but also along margin of each stigmatic cleft; ventral tubular ducts present in cephalic region only; antennae 7 or 8 segmented …Group A................................................................................................... C. brachystegiae -group (p. 27)

- Marginal setae never more than strongly setose, and never extending along margin of each stigmatic cleft; when ventral tubular ducts present in cephalic region also generally present on abdomen; antennae rarely 7 or 8 segmented................... 6

6. Claw digitules both very narrow; tibia and tarsus either fused or nearly so; stigmatic setae very roundly conical, present along most of margin; ventral tubular ducts present sparsely submarginally on thorax and abdomen … Group K................................................................................................... C. rufus -group (p. 96)

- Claw digitules either dissimilar or both large; other characters not in this combination............................... 7

7. Either with each group of stigmatic setae with a single exceptionally large seta at apex of group on dorsum, each large seta 3 or more times larger than other setae in the group, OR legs reduced in size, OR legs reduced and large seta present.......... 8

- Largest setae in each group of stigmatic setae not exceptionally large, never more than twice size of other stigmatic setae; legs not reduced in size.................................................................................... 10

8. Venter near each stigmatic cleft sclerotised; ventral tubular ducts totally absent; tibia and tarsus often fused, with no sign of segmentation … Group J............................................................. C. rubens -group (p. 89)

- Venter near each stigmatic cleft unsclerotised; ventral tubular ducts present associated with anogenital fold; tibia and tarsus usually with some indication of segmentation............................................................... 9

9. Claw digitules very different, 1 significantly narrower than other; dorsal setae cylindrical or even slightly capitate; stigmatic setae more or less restricted to within stigmatic clefts …. Group E.......................... C. destructor -group (p. 49)

- Claw digitules similar, both broad; dorsal setae fairly sharply spinose, with clearly convergent sides; stigmatic setae extending out of each stigmatic cleft along body margins …. Group I............................... C. personatus -group (p. 81)

10. Clear areas absent; dorsal setae all sharply spinose and much longer than width of basal socket; stigmatic setae all sharply spinose; antennae 7 or 8 segmented …Group O..................................... C. stenocephalus -group (p. 158)

- Clear areas present; dorsal setae usually blunt, rarely sharply pointed, and rarely longer than twice width of basal socket; stigmatic setae usually with blunt rounded apices; antennae 6 segmented......................................... 11

11. Loculate microducts of the rusci-type (see Fig. 22), those with 1 satellite loculus by far the most abundant, those with 2 satellite loculi mainly restricted to wax-plate lines; pores with 3 satellite loculi rare or absent......................... 12

- Loculate microducts not of the rusci-type, those with 1 satellite loculus rare or absent; pores with 2, 3 or more satellite loculi common and widespread on dorsum...................................................................... 13

12. Stigmatic setae restricted to a compact group within each stigmatic cleft, not extending out of each cleft along margin; ventral tubular ducts absent from cephalic region…Group Q.................................. C. theobromae -group (p. 171)

- Stigmatic setae not restricted to within each stigmatic cleft, extending out of each cleft along margin, sometimes meeting between clefts; ventral tubular ducts present or absent in cephalic region (stigmatic setae not obviously extending out of cleft on C. danieleae but tubular ducts present in cephalic region) …Group L......................... C. rusci- group (p. 99)

13. Stigmatic setae forming a broad triangular group in each stigmatic cleft, each group distinctly widest along margin....... 14

- Stigmatic setae in a roundish, compact group extending onto dorsum and not obviously widest along margin............ 17

14. Dorsum with more than 8 (usually 12) clear areas; tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis absent; caudal process often protruding posteriorly on older adults …Group B................................................. C. ceriferus -group (p. 33)

- Dorsum with 7 or 8 clear areas; tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis present; caudal process not protruding posteriorly on older adults.............................................................................................. 15

15. Ventral submargin with a band of filamentous ducts (simple microducts; often most visible on young specimens); multilocular disc-pores absent from anterior abdominal segments and thorax…Group M................... C. sinensis- group (p. 152)

- Ventral submargin without a band of filamentous ducts (simple microducts); multilocular disc-pores present on anterior abdominal segments and near each coxa................................................................... 16

16. Dorsal setae often clearly capitate; multilocular disc-pores present mesad to meso- and metacoxae; dorsal loculate microducts of complex type …Group C.................................................... C. cirripediformis -group (p. 37)

- Dorsal setae never clearly capitate; multilocular disc-pores absent mesad to meso- and metacoxae; dorsal loculate microducts of intermediate type … Group P................................................ C. tachardiaformis -group (p. 161)

17. Legs with a tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis, caudal process of older specimens often extending posteriorly; ventral tubular ducts never present submarginally on head and thorax …. Group G........................ C. longicauda -group (p. 64)

- Legs without a tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis (or very small at most); caudal process of older specimens not extending posteriorly; ventral tubular ducts often present submarginally on head and thorax …. Group D.... C. deceptrix -group (p. 39)