Ceroplastes, Da 
CEROPLASTES RUBENS, Maskell. 
(PLATE CIII.) 
Ceroplastes rubens, Maskell, V.Z. Trans., Vol. XXV. p. 214 (1892). 
Ceroplastes myrice, Green (non Linn.), /ud. Mus. Notes, Vol. V. No. 18, 
p. 8 (1900). 
Waxy test of adult female at first deep rose red (jigs. 1, 2), later of a pale 
greyish pink tint (jg. 5). In the earlier stage (which was taken by Maskell as 
the type) the apex is somewhat flattened or even depressed. In older examples, 
the dorsal area is much more convex—sometimes almost globular, and shows 
no median depressed area. Margin more or less expanded and lobed. The 
_four stigmatic areas are marked by conspicuous narrow contorted bands of 
opaque white wax, starting from the stigmata below and recurved over the 
marginal area, and sometimes extended on to the median dorsal area (fg. 2). 
The anterior stigmatic bands are always brought over the front of the test and 
usually almost meet above the cephalic lobe. Colour of young adult insect 
(denuded of wax) dark chocolate brown. Older examples become of a paler 
reddish tint, after deposition of eggs. In parasitised examples the derm of the 
insect remains of a deep brown colour, and the waxy test is of a deeper red. 
Female, denuded of wax (jig. 6), of the usual hemispherical form ; cephalic 
lobe more densely chitinous; margin rather deeply incised at the stigmatic 
areas. Anal process prominent, broadly conical, densely chitinous and deeply 
coloured. Antennz (jg. 10) six-jointed, third very long, equal to terminal 
three together ; the others short and subequal. Legs (jig. 8) very small; the 
tibia and tarsus fused together, the line of division indefinite. Foot (fg. 9) 
with minute stout curved claw; the ungual digitules only very slightly dilated. 
Stigmatic cleft (jig. 7) with a single longish stout conical spine in the centre, 
and many short, stout, rounded (hemispherical) spines which—in optical 
perspective—appear as thick chitinous rings or discs. Marginal hairs small 
and inconspicuous. Derm with numerous minute circular pores. Valves of 
anal operculum comparatively narrow and pointed. Length of fully matured 
test 3550 to 450 mm. Breadth 3 to 380 mm. Length of denuded insect 
3 to 350mm. 
Eggs and young larve purplish red. 
On leaves of tea, avocado pear, mango, cinnamon, Cycas revoluta, Garcinia 
spicata, Calophyllum tomentosum, Psychotria sp.. Eugenia sp., and various 
palms. Pundaluoya, Peradeniya, Kandy, Watawella, Heneratgoda, Batticaloa. 
March, May, June, October, December. Recorded also from Australia, 
Hawaiian Islands, and Japan. 
Readily distinguishable from any other Ceylonese species by the distinct 
red or pink colour, and by the form and position of the white stigmatic bands. 
The species from India, identified and described by me as C. myrice, Linn, 
