Crypticerya Cockerell

Watson, Gillian W., 2022, Towards identification of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) of continental Africa: 2. Checklists and keys to six archaeococcoid families, Zootaxa 5105 (3), pp. 301-356 : 321-333

Genus Crypticerya Cockerell

Of the 28 described species currently placed in Crypticerya , 25 are from the Americas ( García Morales et al. 2016); they have 1‒11 ventral cicatrices arranged in a transverse row or semicircle on the posterior of the abdomen and lack compound pores ( Unruh & Gullan 2008). They are relatively large insects, so heavy infestations extract significant volumes of sap and can cause drying of tissues, premature leaf drop, sooty mould growth and reduction in fruit harvests. Woody host plants are preferred ( Kondo & Watson 2022 in press).

The remaining three species, described by Foldi (2010) from North Africa, have 6‒23 cicatrices in a circular area on the midline posterior to the vulva, and some of them have compound multilocular pores. Foldi placed them provisionally in Crypticerya , although this is a Neotropical genus whose species do not have compound pores ( Unruh & Gullan 2008). During this work, undescribed species from Kenya have been seen that are probably congeneric with those in North Africa, each having multiple cicatrices in a circular area posterior to the vulva ( Fig. 12 ). One species (mentioned as “ Crypticerya ” sp. sensu Foldi (2010) in Watson 2021), collected several times on Rosa sp. in Kenya, has pale yellow wax in life. In Unruh and Gullan (2008), these species key out as either Crypticerya or intermediate between Crypticerya and Gigantococcus ; probably they are more closely related to Gigantococcus than to Crypticerya . These African species need more study and may require a new genus to accommodate them; meanwhile, they are being left as “ Crypticerya ”.

Key to species of “ Crypticerya ” in continental Africa (based on Foldi, 2010)

1(0) With 6 ventral cicatrices forming 2 rows across median area posterior to vulva. Dorsal multilocular pores present in multiple, conspicuous clusters across each segment, each cluster containing 3‒9 multilocular pores.................... marocensis

- With more than 6 ventral cicatrices in a circular median cluster posterior to vulva. Dorsal multilocular pores not forming conspicuous discrete clusters.............................................................................. 2

2(1) Ventral cicatrices totaling 12‒23. Ventral submargins of abdominal segments II‒VI each with only 1 long robust seta, each seta more than 860 µm long................................................................ aegyptiensis ( Fig. 12 )

- Ventral cicatrices totaling 7‒11. Ventral submargins of abdominal segments II‒VI each with 2 or 3 long robust setae, each seta more than 550 µm long................................................................................ 3

3(2) On Rosa sp. , south of the Sahara. Margins of anterior abdominal and thoracic segments with some circular pores each with 5 or 6 elongate-reniform outer loculi and an open, triangular (occasionally cruciform) centre; also, on dorsal margins, slightly smaller circular pores each with 3 or 4 oval outer loculi and 3 or 4 inner loculi arranged in a T or Y or + shape. Ventral cicatrices numbering 8‒11......................................... “ Crypticerya ” sp. (undescribed, listed by Watson (2021))

- On Acacia sp. , in North Africa. Margins of abdominal and thoracic segments with circular pores each with 6 elongate-reniform outer loculi and an open, triangular centre, but dorsal margins without the smaller circular pores described above. Ventral cicatrices numbering 7‒10........................................................................... thibaudi

Figures

FIGURE 12. “Crypticerya” aegyptiensis Foldi, adult female, from Foldi (2010: 292, Fig. 1). C: cicatrices. Reproduced with permission from Annales de la Société entomologique de France.