Species Ceroplastes destructor Newstead, 1917

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Species Ceroplastes destructor Newstead, 1917

Soft Wax Scale, White Wax Scale

Ceroplastes destructor Newstead, R. 1917. Observations on scale-insects (Coccidae) – IV. Bulletin of Entomological Research 8: 1-34 [26].
Type data:
Lectotype NHM-UK ♀, UGANDA: Entebbe, Botanical Gardens.
Subsequent designation references:
Williams, D.J. & Watson, G.W. 1990. The Scale Insects of the Tropical South Pacific Region. Pt. 3: The soft scales (Coccidae) and other families. London : CAB International Institute of Entomology 267 pp. [69].
Gascardia postperlucidus Qin, T.K., Gullan, P.J., Beattie, G.A.C., Trueman, J.W.H., Cranston, P.S., Fletcher, M.J. & Sands, D.P.A. 1994. The current distribution and geographical origin of the scale insect pest Ceroplastes sinensis (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 84: 541-549 [546] [nom. nud., see Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305–306 (305)].
Secondary source:
Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305-306.
Gascardia postperlucidus Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1995. A cladistic analysis of wax scales. Systematic Entomology 20: 289-308 [302] [nom. nud., see Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305–306 (305)].
Secondary source:
Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305-306.
Ceroplastes postperlucidus Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305-306 [305].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

Qin, T.K. & Gullan, P.J. 1999. A new synonym of Ceroplastes destructor Newsted (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae). African Entomology 7(2): 305-306 [305] (synonymy of Ceroplastes postperlucidus Qin & Gullan, 1999)

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

ID Keys

(Hodgson, C.J. & Henderson, R.C., 2000) [185] (female; New Zealand); (Williams, D.J. & Watson, G.W., 1990) [65] (female; tropical South Pacific)

BIOLOGY

Smith, D., Beattie, G.A.C. & Broadley, R.H. 1997. Citrus Pests and their Natural Enemies: Integrated Pest Management in Australia. Brisbane, Australia : State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries, and Horticultural Research and Development Corp. 263 pp. reported two annual generations in Queensland, Australia. Cilliers, C.J. 1967. A comparative biological study of three Ceroplastes species (Hem. Coccidae) and their natural enemies. Entomology Memoirs, Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Republic of South Africa. Pretoria 13: 1–59 studied the biology and natural enemies in South Africa. Two generations were found to occur annually on citrus in Queensland, Australia (Smith, 1970; Smith & Ironside, 1974). De Lotto, G. 1971. Four new genera of Pseudococcidae (Homoptera: Coccoidea). Bollettino del Laboratorio di Entomologia Agraria 'Filippo Silvestri', Portici 28: 245–256 noted that the development of the caudal process is gradual and the organ attains its full size some time after the last moult has taken place. Beattie, G.A.C., Weir, R.G., Clift, R.G. & Jiang, L. 1990. Effect of nutrients on the growth and phenology of Gascardia destructor (Newstead) and Ceroplastes sinensis Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Coccidae) infesting citrus. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 29(3): 199–203 studied the effect of nutrients in citrus (New South Wales, Australia). Milne, W.M. 1993. The effect of watering regime on immature stages of Ceroplastes destructor Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 32: 229–232 studied in Australia and concluded that watering regime did not significantly affect the survival of immature stages but it did affect rate of development. Rate of development was also influenced by host plant species. Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 35°C apparently caused high mortality of immature stages, on leaves, regardless of water regime. A major citrus pest in Queensland, Australia (see Sabine, B.N.E. 1969. Insecticidal control of citrus pests in coastal central Queensland. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 26: 83–88 and Smith, D. & Ironside, D.A. 1974. The seasonal history of Gascardia destructor (Newstead) in Queensland. Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 31: 195–199. Biology and pest status on coffee presented by Le Pelley, R.H. 1968. In: Pests of Coffee. London : Longmans 588 pp.. Snowball, G.J. 1969. Prospects for biological control of white wax scale (Gascardia destructor) in Australia by South African natural enemies. Journal of the Entomological Society of Australia (N.S.W.) 5: 23–33 surveyed the natural enemies in South Africa.

STRUCTURE

See colour photograph in Hodgson, C.J. & Henderson, R.C. 2000. Coccidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand : Manaaki Whenua Press 259 pp..

GENERAL

Description and illustration of adult female by De Lotto, G. 1965. On some Coccidae (Homoptera), chiefly from Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 16: 175–239, Williams, D.J. & Watson, G.W. 1990. The Scale Insects of the Tropical South Pacific Region. Pt. 3: The soft scales (Coccidae) and other families. London : CAB International Institute of Entomology 267 pp., Hodgson, C.J. & Henderson, R.C. 2000. Coccidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand : Manaaki Whenua Press 259 pp..