Valid Names Results

Ceroplastes myricae (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coccidae: Ceroplastes)

Nomenclatural History

• Coccus myricae Linnaeus 1767: 741. Type data: SOUTH AFRICA: Cape of Good Hope, on Myrica quercifolia. Data of Neotype: South Africa, Cape Province, Betty’s Bay, on Morella quercifolia, 28.vii.2008, collected J.H. Giliomee.. Neotype, female, by subsequent designation (HodgsoWiGi2009,100). Type depository: Pretoria: South African National Collection of Insects, South Africa; accepted valid name Notes: Linnaeus' Type material probably lost (Ben-Dov, 1993).
• Columnea myricae (Linnaeus, 1767); Targioni Tozzetti 1866: 143. change of combination
• Ceroplastes myricae (Linnaeus, 1767); Signoret 1872a: 39. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 3 | Genera: 3

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• HodgsoPe2012: pp.100 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to adult females in the Ceroplastes rusci-group]
• HodgsoWiGi2009: pp.102-104 ( Adult (F) ) [Ceroplastes species of South Africa]

Remarks

• Systematics: The characters that appear to distinguish this species from C. rusci are: (i) the larger number of tubular ducts in the cephalic region, and (ii) the presence of multilocular disc-pores generally at least on segment III and sometimes on posterior thoracic segments, and (iii) the lack of a claw denticle. (Hodgson & Peronti, 2012)
• Structure: Colour photo of adult female by Hodgson et al. (2009) and by Giliomee (2009). Unmounted material. Waxy test composed mainly of peachy to whitish wet wax. In young adult females, basic shape approximately broadly cone-like, with a horizontal groove about half-way up, dividing test into a single dome-like top part and a broad bottom half. Center of dome-like top slightly indented with a central nucleus. Broad basal part divided vertically by eight grooves, thus producing eight approximately quadrate wax plates laterally, each with a central indentation with some dry wax filaments. Posterior-most quadrate area with anal plates showing centrally, appearing as a dark spot, flanked by a pair of dry wax filaments. Stigmatic wax bands appearing white, although not very obvious. Waxy test of old adult female larger, without grooves, with a rather smoothly-rounded outline. Test of old females about 7 mm long and 5 mm wide. With wax removed, lateral and cephalic processes present but small. Mounted material. Body elongate oval, rather convex; 3.0–4.5 mm long, 1.6–2.1 mm wide; stigmatic clefts shallow and distinct; dorsum with small lateral and cephalic processes. Caudal process short and stout, length 0.8-1.1 mm, width 0.7-1.0 mm. (Hodgson & Peronti, 2012)
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Hodgson et al. (2009). C. myricae is currently only known from South Africa on Morella sp. (Rubiaceae) and Euclea sp. (Ebenaceae). Hodgson et al. (2009) mention Green’s (1900) record of C. myricae from Upper Assam and North Lakhimpur, India. The figures in Green (1900) clearly show that this refers to C. rubens Maskell and Green later corrected the record (Green, 1909). (Hodgson & Peronti, 2012)

Illustrations

Citations