Zhao, X.Y., & Xie, Y.P. 2004 [Morphological characteristics of the different developmental stages of the male scale insect, Eulecanium giganteum.]. Entomological Knowledge 41(1): 60-64.

Notes: Morphological characteristics of the male scale insect, Eulecanium giganteum was studied with the aid of a light microscope. Male E. giganteum goes through four developmental stages: hatching nymph, fixed nymph, pre-pupa and pupa, and adult. The first stage is the dispersal and active phase, and these nymphs are crawlers. They have developed eyes, antennae and three pairs of legs so that they can locate hosts. However, the wax glands on their body surface are very few. In the next developmental phase, the end of first instar and second instar, nymphs are fixed and feed on twigs and/or leaves. During this period, the margins of the body are densely setose. There are many wax glands which result in the formation of a turtle-like wax shell on the dorsal surface. The pre-pupa and pupa no longer feed and are concealed in a white, semi-transparent wax cover. At this stage the morphological characters of the scale insect differs greatly from those at the nymph stage. The pre-pupa's wing buds appear, and other organs are reduced, for example, eyes are absent and antennae and legs are short, and segmentations are indistinct. In the pupal stage, the wing buds, antennae and legs are more elongated and covered with abundant sensory hairs. In the adult stage, the sensory and motor organs become well developed. There are five pairs of ocelli around the head. Antennae become 10-segmented and with several kinds of sensilla. The wings and legs become stronger.