Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet

Ben-Dov, Yair, 2010, On new taxa and some described armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) living in the galleries of the ant Melissotarsus insularis Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, Zootaxa 2368, pp. 49-58 : 50

Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet

Melanaspis madagascariensis Mamet, 1951: 250

This species was originally described from Madagascar off Cephalanthus spatheliferus (Naucleaceae) from populations with normal diaspidoid scale covering ( Mamet, 1951). Later it was recorded from Angola by Almeida (1973). The records below represent the first report on ‘scale-less’ populations of this armoured scale species in Madagascar that are associated with Melissotarsus insularis .

Material studied. MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77° ENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170° S Beheloka Elevation 40m 24°2'50"S 43°45'11", Pachypodium geayi (Apocynaceae) , 18-22. iii. 2002, BLF6220, C-3599; Toliara Province, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131° SE Ankidranoka, Elevation 80m, 22°13'59"S 43°21'59"E, 12-16.iii.2002, on Euphorbiaceae , BLF6137, C- 3601; Toliara Province, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29° WNW Tongobory, Elevation 75m 23°31'27"S 44°7'17"E, Leptadenia madagascariensis (Apocynaceae) , 27.ii-3.iii.2002, BLF5935, C-3607; Toliara Province, 12.7 km 287° W Marovato, elevation 130m, 25°32'10"S 45°9'1"E, Euphorbia sp. ( Euphorbiaceae ), 17.ii.2002, BLF5699, C-3617; Toliara Province, Forêt de Tsinjoriaky, 6.2 km 84° E Tsifota, elevation 70m, 22°48'8"S 43°25'14"E, Hilsenbergia croatii (Boraginaceae) , 6.iii.2002, BLF6057, C-3627; Toliara Province, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131° SE Ankidranoka, elevation 80m, 22°13'59"S 43°21'59"E, Euphorbia antso (Euphorbiaceae) , 16.iii.2006, BLF6106, C-3630; Toliara Province, Mahafaly Plateau, 6.2 km 74° ENE Itampolo, elevation 80m, 24°39'13"S 43°59'48"E, Euphorbia stenoclada (Euphorbiaceae) , 21.i.2002, BLF5830, C-3632.