Valid Names Results

Waxiella africana (Green, 1899) (Coccidae: Waxiella)

Nomenclatural History

• Ceroplastes africanus Green 1899b: 188. Type data: SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province, Kleinpoort, on Acacia sp.. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (BenDov1986,169). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; accepted valid name
• Ceroplastes mimosae; Brain 1920a: 31. misidentification
• Waxiella africana (Green, 1899); Ben-Dov 1986: 166. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 2 | Genera: 5

Foes:

Families: 3 | Genera: 5

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• HodgsoPe2012: pp.198-199 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to adult females in the Waxiella africana-group (excluding W. erithraeus (Leonardi) and W. mimosae neghellii (Bellio)).]

Remarks

• Systematics: Waxiella (Ceroplastes) africana (Green) had been previously synonymised with Waxiella (Ceroplastes) mimosae (Signoret) (Lindinger, 1912) but, based on the material seen during his study, Ben-Dov (1986) concluded that they were clearly separate species. Good characters for separating these 2 species are: (i) the shape of the group of conical stigmatic setae, narrow with a broad area of sclerotisation on W. africana but almost round with (at most) a narrow area of sclerotisation on W. mimosae; (ii) the paucity of ventral microducts medially on W. africana, these being much more abundant on W. mimosae, where they are frequent on all abdominal segments; (iii) the absence of multilocular disc-pores laterad to each metacoxa on W. africana, but with (0)-10 pores present on W. mimosae, (iv) the many fewer spiracular disc-pores on W. africana (about 100-120 as compared with 150-250 on W. mimosae) and (v) the absence of multilocular disc-pores along the anterior border of each band of stigmatic disc-pores and mesad to each spiracle on W. africana (present in both areas on W. mimosae). In addition, W. africana is believed to be restricted to southern Africa whereas W. mimosae appears to be restricted to the eastern Sahara area. (Hodgson & Peronti, 2012) W. africana is very similar to W. senegalensis. Both have the same shaped stigmatic cleft but the group of stigmatic setae on the latter species is somewhat larger and has more conical and sharply-spinose stigmatic setae. W. senegalensis appears to be restricted to the northern areas of Africa around the Sahara whereas W. africana is apparently restricted to southern Africa (South Africa and Namibia) where it has only been collected on Acacia sp. (A. karroo and A. longifolia).
• Structure: Unmounted material. "Insects crowded on the stems of the plant, so much so that the waxy covering of adjacent individuals becomes more or less confluent and the normal form of the test is difficult to determine. The tests appear as rounded masses of cream-coloured wax, each with a more or less nipple-like prominence at the apex bearing a small spot of white substance. The usual opaque white bands from the spiracular regions are present, but very inconspicuous, scarcely extending beyond the margin. In some specimens, a series of impressed arches on the sides of the test marks the position of the marginal plates. The waxy coating being thinner on the impressed parts, the arches appear darker, the colour of the body of the insect showing through the covering matter. An isolated test averages 7.75 mm, 6.50 mm broad, 5.75 mm high." (Green, 1899b). "Body of fully-grown female convex; dorsal derm sclerotised; with a well-developed cephalic projection extending about 800 ìm forward to margin. Anal process short. Young females (slide mounted) 1.6 mm long, 1.2 mm wide. Fully-grown female up to 5.5 mm long, 5.0 mm wide and 4.5 mm high." (Ben-Dov, 1986). Mounted material. Body elongate oval, probably quite convex, with distinct, shallow, stigmatic clefts; dorsum without distinct tubercles. Stigmatic setae of 2 types: ventral sharply-spinose setae amongst spiracular disc-pores and dorsal conical setae in an oval group on dorsum, with cleft surrounded by a wide area of sclerotisation on older specimens. Caudal process short and stout, 2.0 (2.7-3.0) mm long, 2.5 (2.5-2.7) mm wide. Length about 8 mm (young specimens 1.35-1.58) mm, width 6.5 mm (young specimens 0.98-1.23) mm. (Hodgson & Peronti, 2012)
• Biology: Life history (as C. mimosae) in South Africa studied by Cilliers (1967).
• Economic Importance: The wax of the adult female of this scale insect is used for mending cracks and holes in porcelain and metal in Egypt. (Kondo & Gullan, 2022)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Hodgson & Peronti, 2012. Based on an extensive study of Waxiella in the Afrotropical region, Hodgson & Peronti, 2012, determined that W. africana only exists in South Africa, and previous records of W. africana in other areas of the region were misidentifications. Therefore the following records have been deleted from ScaleNet: Sudan (Newstead, 1911), Nigeria (Newstead, 1913), Uganda (Newstead, 1917b), Egypt (Hall, 1922, Hall, 1927b) and Algeria (Balachowsky, 1929a).

Illustrations

Citations