Ceroplastes stellifer (Westwood, 1871)

(Fig. 14)

Vinsonia stellifera (Westwood), Yang, 1982: 183; Tang, 1991: 311; Wong et al., 1999: 17; Wang, 2001: 385.

Ceroplastes stellifer (Westwood), Deng et al. 2014: 278.

Material examined. YUNNAN: 8 ♀♀, Mengla, on Schefflera octophylla (Araliaceae), 21.x.2013, coll. Jun Deng & Xubo Wang; 2 ♀♀, Mengla, on Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), 22.x.2013, coll. Jun Deng & Xubo Wang.

Distribution in China. Taiwan, Yunnan.

Host-plants. Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae); Schefflera octophylla (Araliaceae); Diospyros discolor (Ebenaceae); Garcinia subelliptica (Guttiferae); Syzygium samarangense (Myrtaceae); Palaquium formosanum (Sapotaceae) (Fang 1989; Tao et al. 1983).

Biology. Both immature and mature stages live on the lower surfaces of the host-plant.

Remarks. This species was first recorded from Taiwan by Takahashi (1929) on Mangifera indica, and from Yunnan by Deng et al. (2014) on Schefflera octophylla and M. indica . It can be easily distinguished from other Ceroplastes species by the wax cover of the adult female resembling a starfish, and by having 7–11 pairs of setae between the antennae.