Ceroplastes, Gray, 1828

Li, Pengchen & Wang, Xubo, 2025, A new species of Ceroplastes (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from southwest China evidenced by morphological and molecular data, with a discussion on the variation in the number of clear areas in the C. floridensis species-group, Zootaxa 5693 (1), pp. 94-106 : 102-103

Key to 16 species of Ceroplastes found in China, based on the morphology of the adult female (modified from Wu & Wang (2019))

Note: Ceroplastes actiniformis is not included in this key, since no specimens were available for study and Green’s (1896 and 1909) descriptions provide insufficient detail.

1(0) Tibia and tarsus fused; tubular ducts absent from venter....................................................... 2

- Tibia and tarsus not fused; tubular ducts present on venter..................................................... 4

2(1) Stigmatic setae of 1 type, all bullet-like. With 8–11 pairs of setae between antennae............... C. stellifer (Westwood)

- Stigmatic setae of 2 types, bullet-like and hemispherical. With 2 pairs of setae between antennae...................... 3

3(2) Each group of stigmatic setae usually with 4 rows of spinose setae (including the most dorsal seta)....... C. rubens Maskell

- Each group of stigmatic setae usually with 5 rows of spinose setae (including the most dorsal seta)....................................................................................... C. reunionensis Ben-Dov & Matile-Ferrero

4(1) Ventral tubular ducts each with a very short, swollen inner ductule, ducts forming a submarginal band from near each scape almost to anal cleft. Mediodorsal clear area absent........................................................... 5

- Ventral tubular ducts each with a long thin inner ductule, not forming a submarginal band, present in both the cephalic region and posteriorly in association with the anogenital fold, or only in the cephalic region. Mediodorsal clear area present or absent... .................................................................................................. 10

5(4) Multilocular disc-pores absent from venter of thorax and anterior abdomen....................................... 6

- Multilocular disc-pores present on venter of thorax and anterior abdomen......................................... 7

6(5) Each stigmatic cleft with 5–14 setae..................................................... C. planus Wu & Wang

- Each stigmatic cleft with 26–29 setae........................................... C. planoides Li & Wang , sp. nov.

7(5) Multilocular disc-pores absent from near procoxae. Wax test with center orange-red and margins white..................................................................................................... C. centroroseus Chen

- Multilocular disc-pores present near procoxae. Wax test entirely one color........................................ 8

8(7) Each thoracic margin with stigmatic setae between stigmatic clefts forming a continuous row, interspersed with 4–6 marginal flagellate setae......................................................................... C. japonicus Green

- Each thoracic margin with anterior and posterior stigmatic setae separated by more than 8 marginal setae............... 9

9(8) Claw digitules unequal in size. Dorsal 5-locular pores present. Wax test orange-red.......... C. kunmingensis (Tang & Xie)

- Claw digitules equal in size. Dorsal 1–4-locular pores present; never with 5-locular pores. Wax test white................................................................................................. C. floridensis Comstock

10(4) Antenna usually 7-segmented. Dorsal setae conspicuously capitate........................ C. cirripediformis Comstock

- Antenna 6 or 7 segmented. Dorsal setae not conspicuously capitate............................................. 11

11(10) Mediodorsal clear area absent. Dorsum and venter with submarginal filamentous ducts. Ventral tubular ducts present in both cephalic region and posteriorly in association with anogenital fold............................................. 12

- Mediodorsal clear area present. Dorsum and venter without submarginal filamentous ducts. Ventral tubular ducts present only in cephalic region.................................................................................... 13

12(11) Each stigmatic group containing about 50 enlarged setae, irregularly arranged in 4–5 rows......... C. ceriferus (Fabricius)

- Each stigmatic group usually containing more than 70 enlarged setae, irregularly arranged in 6–7 rows.................................................................................................. C. pseudoceriferus Green

13(11) Antenna usually 7-segmented. Stigmatic clefts deep, each with a large group of>45 enlarged setae. Tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis absent...................................................................................... 14

- Antennae each with 6 segments. Stigmatic clefts shallow, each with a small group of <30 enlarged setae. Tibio-tarsal articulatory sclerosis present..................................................................................... 15

14(13) Anal process elongated and slender, about 1/2 body length. Stigmatic setae bullet-shaped............. C. murrayi Froggatt

- Anal process short, not exceeding 1/3 body length. Stigmatic setae bullet-shaped and hemispherical....................................................................................................... C. magnificus (Green)

15(13) Dorsal cephalic clear area present. Dorsal setae blunt-tipped. Bands of 5-locular pores in spiracular furrows broad, each 5–10 pores wide............................................................................. C. rusci (Linnaeus)

- Dorsal cephalic clear area absent. Dorsal setae conical and sharply tipped. Bands of 5-locular pores in spiracular furrows narrow, each only 2–3 pores wide.................................................. C. xishuangensis Tang & Xie