Coccomorpha
Creators: name: Watson, Gillian W.
name: Ouvrard, David
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera

description: Key to scale insect families currently known from continental Africa, based on adult females (23 families). Figures 1‒26 are given after the key.
Caution. It is recognised that some entomologists may use this key to identify specimens from outside Africa. In some cases, this could result in misidentifications because the key was not developed to identify scales from other continents, particularly Australia, which has many unique scale insects.
1 (0) Adult female with anterior legs much enlarged and sclerotized (adapted for digging); mouthparts absent; found in soil, feeding on roots. Legless immature cyst stages in soil, forming ‘ground pearls’........................ MARGARODIDAE (Fig. 1)
– Adult female with anterior legs not enlarged, similar in size to middle legs, or absent; mouthparts present or absent; found above ground or on roots. Immature stages, if forming legless cysts, found above ground .................................... 2
2 (1) Abdomen with small spiracles present on at least posterior segments, numbering 2–8 pairs..............................3
– Abdominal spiracles absent................................................................................6
3 (2) Ovisac band on venter of abdomen composed of spines. Antennal terminal segment with a stout spine-like apical seta. Anal opening situated near or at apex of abdomen, formed of a sclerotised ring bearing 6 setae. Eyes often situated on sclerotized stalks...................................................................................... ORTHEZIIDAE (Fig. 2)
– Ovisac band on venter of abdomen, if present, composed of pores. Antennal terminal segment without a stout spine-like apical seta. Anal opening, if visible, situated near apex of abdomen or on dorsum at some distance from abdominal apex. Sclerotised anal ring, if present, situated at inner end of an anal tube, not on body surface; anal ring lacking setae but sometimes with pores. Eyes never on sclerotized stalks................................................................................ 4
4 (3) Antennae with bases separated by more than width of antennal segment I; each antenna with 8‒11 segments and with basal segment length up to about 2x longer than other segments. Mouthparts usually well-developed but occasionally degenerate. Ovisac or marsupial band, if present, composed of pores. Immature stages not forming legless cysts.... MONOPHLEBIDAE (Fig. 3)
– Antennae set close together on head, separated by less than width of antennal segment I; each antenna with 8 or 9 segments, and with basal 1 or 2 segments each more than 2x longer than other segments. Mouthparts often reduced or absent. Ovisac or marsupial band absent. Some immature stages forming legless cysts above ground....................................... .. 5
5 (4) Tarsus 2 segmented, proximal segment short. Coxa apparently divided vertically. Ventral apex of each tibia with stout acute setae. Claw without a denticle. Abdominal spiracles each without pores in atrium. On Pinaceae ...... MATSUCOCCIDAE (Fig. 4)
‒ Tarsus 1 segmented. Coxa not divided longitudinally. Ventral apex of each tibia with numerous capitate setae. Claw with a denticle. Abdominal spiracles each with pores in atrium. On Fagaceae, especially Quercus ...... KUWANIIDAE in part (Fig. 5)
6 (2) Antenna with 8 segments. Antennal bases situated close together on front of head, separated by less than basal width of antennal segment I. Antennal segments II–VIII much shorter and narrower than antennal segment I, each no more than 1.8x as long as wide, and antennal segment I large,>2x as long as wide and at least 3x as long as segment II. Labium weakly developed; stylets absent. Living in the bark..................................... Kuwania ologostigma De Lotto (Kuwaniidae) (Fig. 6)
‒ Antenna with 1–9 segments. Antennal bases normally separated by more than 2x width of antennal segment I, situated on front or venter of head. If present, antennal segments II–VIII slimmer than antennal segment I, each up to 3x as long as wide, and antennal segment I usually <1.5x as long as wide and <1.5x as long as segment II. Mouthparts usually developed and functional. Habitats various including under bark.............................................................................. .. 7
7 (6) With some or all of: dorsal ostioles, ventral circuli, trilocular pores each with a swirled centre, and 1–18 pairs of cerarii. Anal ring usually with 1 to 3 concentric rows of pores.................................................................. 8
– Without dorsal ostioles, ventral circuli, swirled trilocular pores or cerarii. Anal ring with or without pores.................10
8 (7) Claws each with a denticle on plantar surface and often an additional denticle on claw base. Trochanters mostly each with 3 or 4 campaniform sensilla on each surface....................................................... PUTOIDAE (Fig. 7)
– Claws each with or without a denticle on plantar surface, but claw base always without a denticle. Trochanters each with 2 campaniform sensilla on each surface (except Lenania prisca De Lotto (Pseudococcidae) with 3 on each surface).............. 9
9 (8) Antennae each with 1–9 segments. Cerarii present. Tri- or bitubular cerores absent. Hind legs normally with translucent pores. Circuli, if present, fairly flat, membranous, and usually not textured. Found on any part of host-plant including roots....................................................................................... PSEUDOCOCCIDAE (Fig. 8)
– Antennae with up to 6 segments. Cerarii absent. Tri- or bitubular cerores usually present. Hind legs without translucent pores. Circuli, if present, often each on a raised cone and sometimes textured. Feeding on roots or in moss......................................................................................................... RHIZOECIDAE (Fig. 9)
10 (7) Anterior thoracic spiracles conspicuously larger than posterior pair. Dorsum of thorax with a pair of brachia, each bearing a brachial plate. Centre of abdomen with a large dorsal spine. Anal ring surrounded by a ring of fimbriations, lobes or setae, situated on anal tubercle near posterior end........................................................ KERRIIDAE (Fig. 10)
– Anterior and posterior thoracic spiracles of similar size. Dorsum without brachia, brachial plates or a large dorsal spine. Anal opening never surrounded by lobes or fimbriations and either situated on dorsal body surface, or at inside end of an eversible tube, sometimes on a posterior apical protruberance ............................................................... .. 11
11 (10) Anal complex oval, heavily sclerotized, situated near middle of dorsum. Anal plates numbering 2, each semicircular and situated on midline, with 1 anterior to anal opening and 1 posterior to it........................ STICTOCOCCIDAE (Fig. 11)
– Anal complex usually situated at or near posterior end of abdomen. Anal plate(s) either singular and situated on midline or paired, not semicircular, and situated on either side of anal opening............................................ .. 12
12 (11) Anal cleft present, with a pair of dorsal triangular or rounded anal plates situated at its base, covering anal opening. Inner margins of anal plates usually contiguous, together forming an operculum............................... COCCIDAE (Fig. 12)
– Anal cleft, if present, without paired plates at its base, although there may be a single plate in this position. If anal cleft absent, a pair of anal plates may be present, with one on each side of anal opening.......................................... 13
13 (12) Antenna 3 segmented. Sclerotised anal ring flanked by paired curved anal plates or a ∩-shaped sclerotised crescent. Largest tubular ducts each with an invaginated, cup-shaped inner end. Vulva located on abdominal segment VI. On grasses.......................................................................................... .. MICROCOCCIDAE (Fig. 13)
– Antenna with 1–9 segments, almost never with 3. Anal opening with or without a sclerotised anal ring; if ring present it is associated with anal plates, these situated anterior or posterior to anal ring, not flanking it. Largest tubular ducts with inner end sometimes cup-shaped. Vulva located between abdominal segments VII and VIII. Hosts various including grasses......... 14
14 (13) Abdomen with furrows and ridges along posterior margin. Short anal cleft usually present, with a single triangular or oval anal plate situated at anterior end; occasionally anal plate split longitudinally almost to its anterior margin. Anal opening leading to an eversible anal tube, inner end with an anal ring bearing 10 or more setae. Legs usually absent. Mostly found on grasses........................................................................... ACLERDIDAE (Fig. 14)
– Abdomen without furrows or ridges along posterior margin. Anal cleft, if present, without a single, triangular or oval anal plate at anterior end, although a thin sclerotised crescent may be present anterior to anal opening and / or a shield- or butterfly-shaped plate may be present near posterior margin. Anal opening on surface or at inner end of an eversible tube; anal ring present or absent. Legs present or absent. Hosts various, including grasses.........................................................15
15 (14) 8-shaped pores present somewhere on body................................................................. 16
– 8-shaped pores absent, although dorsal bilocular pores may be present.............................................18
16 (15) Cribriform plates present at least on dorsum of abdomen. Posterior spiracular furrows often divided. Tubular ducts each with a cup-shaped inner end and a narrow terminal filament. Anal plate posterior to anal opening well developed, shield- or butterflyshaped; sometimes with an arched plate anteriorly in addition................................................... 17
– Cribriform plates absent. Posterior spiracular furrows not divided. Tubular ducts each without either a strongly cup-shaped inner end or a narrow terminal filament. Dorso-anterior margin of anal opening with arched anal plate poorly developed or absent........................................................................... ... ASTEROLECANIIDAE (Fig. 15)
17 (16) Antennae each 1- or 2-segmented, with a group of quinquelocular pores present near base. Single anal plate triangular to shieldshaped. Venter of abdomen with transverse rows of pores, usually of both 8-shaped and multilocular types .................................................................................................. CEROCOCCIDAE (Fig.16)
– Antennae each with 7–9 segments, without quinquelocular pores near base. With 2 triangular anal plates present posterior to anal opening, linked by a narrow yoke to form a single butterfly shaped plate, plus a narrow, arched plate present more anteriorly. Venter of abdomen with transverse rows of multilocular pores only................... LECANODIASPIDIDAE (Fig. 17)
18 (15) With dorsal clusters of 3-, 4- or 5-locular pores, each cluster usually including 1 central tubular duct. Thick truncate setae numerous, each with sides almost parallel................................................ .. DACTYLOPIIDAE (Fig. 18)
– Without dorsal clusters of 3-, 4- or 5-locular pores each containing 1 central duct. If thick truncate setae present, their sides are distinctly convergent.................................................................................... 19
19 (18) Abdomen with posterior segments fused into a pygidium or pygidium-like area.................................... 20
– Abdomen with posterior segments distinct, not fused into a pygidium-like structure................................. 22
20 (19) Legs usually present.Antenna with 3‒5 segments. Dorsum of head with 1 pair of large circular ocellar spots. Disc pores each with more than 7 loculi, often flower- or star-shaped. Scale cover not visibly containing exuviae of previous instars............................................................................................ CONCHASPIDIDAE (Fig. 19)
– Legs absent or vestigial. Antenna with only 1 segment. Dorsum of head without large ocellar spots. Disc pores, when present, each with no more than 5 loculi. Scale cover, if present, obviously containing exuviae of previous instars.....................21
21 (20) Pygidium simple, its margin without lobes, plates or gland-spines. Detachable scale cover absent. Adult female enclosed in a test, possibly formed from second-instar exuviae, posterior end of test with a hinged flap (operculum) surrounded by a sclerotized rim. On palms or Pandanus only..................................................... HALIMOCOCCIDAE (Fig. 20)
‒ Pygidium with dorsal macroducts, and usually lobes and plates or gland-spines on margin. Detachable scale cover usually present, incorporating exuviae of previous instars. If adult female remains inside exuviae of previous stage (pupillarial), test of those on mango may have a posterior hinged operculum. Hosts various including palms and Pandanus ....... DIASPIDIDAE (Fig. 21)
22 (19) Derm covered with papillae, especially around margins.Anal ring simple, with 0–2 setae and no pores. Tubular ducts each divided longitudinally by a septum, appearing 8-shaped in cross section; duct with inner end almost flat. On palms only...................................................................................... PHOENICOCOCCIDAE (Fig. 22)
– Derm without papillae. Anal ring variable. In eriococcids currently known from Africa, tubular ducts each not divided longitudinally by a septum nor 8-shaped in cross-section (but not true world-wide); duct with inner end often cup-shaped. Hosts various but not on palms....................................................................................... 23
23 (20) Anal lobes small or absent. Macrotubular ducts present in a dense ventral submarginal zone. Almost exclusively on Fagaceae ............................................................................ KERMESIDAE (in part) (Fig. 23)
– Anal lobes, if present, prominent. Most species without a dense submarginal zone of macrotubular ducts. Hosts various, including Fagaceae ............................................................................................. 24
24(23) Microtubular ducts absent. Sclerotised anal lobes present and prominent. Hind legs without translucent pores. On Juniperus sp. only.................................................. Eriokermes juniperinus (De Lotto) (Kermesidae) (Fig. 24)
‒ Microtubular ducts present. Sclerotised anal lobes present or absent. Hind legs often with translucent pores. On a wide variety of hosts but almost never on Juniperus sp. ............................................ ERIOCOCCIDAE (Figs 25, 26)
description: Published as part of Watson, Gillian W. & Ouvrard, David, 2021, Towards the identification of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) of continental Africa: 1. Identification of the families, pp. 151-190 in Zootaxa 5052 (2) on pages 155-157, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5568555