Ceroplastes. 275 
CEROPLASTES ACTINIFORMIS, Green. 
(PLATE CIV.) 
Ceroplastes actiniformis, Green, nd. Mus. Notes, Vol. 1V. p. 8 (1896.) 
Adult female (figs. 2, 3, 4) with a thick, broadly oval, hemispherical waxy 
test ; the central area domed ; the marginal area thickened by a series of eight 
tumescent quadrate plaques each with a depressed centre and separated by 
marginal indentations ; the apex of the dorsal area with a small depressed oval 
spot containing a medium elongate raised pad of opaque white wax. Colour 
very pale pink, deepening to red at the junction of the marginal area, and with 
numerous fine radiating pinkish streaks ; the depressed median spot darker 
than the surrounding area ; the depressed spots on the marginal area, each with 
one or more small opaque white points, and a fan-shaped band of opaque white 
-wax covering the four stigmatic areas. In dried examples the test assumes a 
uniform brownish tint. The insect itself, as seen from below (jig. 3), reddish 
brown. 
Female denuded of wax (fig. 5) smoothly globular, the margin slightly 
recurved, more particularly at the cephalic extremity, which is denser and more 
deeply coloured ; sides slightly overlapping the margin and indented at two 
points on each side. Anal aperture on a stout conical process of a deep brown 
colour. Antennz (/ig. 6) six-jointed ; the third very long, the fourth and fifth 
shortest; the subapical hair on second and third joints unusually long. Legs well 
developed ; foot (jg. 9) with equal digitules, the unguals broadly dilated. 
Margin with small pointed hairs, which give place—at the stigmatic areas—to 
stout conical spines (jigs. 7, 8). Derm of dorsum with numerous minute 
translucent pores, which are more crowded on the marginal zone. Size very 
variable, some specimens, though fully mature (as shown by the presence of 
eggs beneath the scale), being little more than half the size of others. Length, 
with waxy test, 2°50 to 450mm. Breadth 2to 375mm. Height 1:25 to2°50 mm. 
Immature female (fg. 11) with the median dorsal area flatter ; the marginal 
plates very distinct and sharply defined. 
Male unknown in any stage. 
Newly-hatched larva (jg. 12) of usual Lecaniid form; pale reddish. After 
taking up its position on the leaf it quickly commences to secrete a waxy covering 
which, by the tenth day, has taken the form shown at /ig. 13, consisting of two 
median dorsal prominent truncated pads and a submarginal series of fifteen 
broad, bluntly pointed radiating processes. The anterior waxy pad on the 
dorsum is pierced by four circular canals, and the posterior pad by several 
transversely elongate apertures. 
Eggs pink. 
On the fronds of cocoanut and other palms; on leaves of Canna and Sapium 
sebiferum. Pundaluoya, Kandy, Colombo. 
A very ornamental species, somewhat resembling civrhzpediformzs in the 
form of the waxy test, but differing in the more evenly rounded median dorsal 
region. 
(ome) 
