in groups of 4-12; usually 2 or 3 dorsal-most setae
(Fig. 102, B) much longer than others.
DISTRIBUTION: Map XLIII. Eradicated from
Florida as of December 1954 (Dekle 1969).
Foreign: Africa, Bahama Islands, Borneo, Carib-
bean Islands, Central America, Fiji, India,
Japan, Java, Maritius, Micronesia, Philippines,
South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thai-
land; in greenhouses in Europe and the Far East.


Fig. 101. Vnsonia stellfera, adult female and nymphs, DPI Photo
680226.
The color of the living insect is pink to purplish-
red which darkens with age. Median area
strongly convex above.
DESCRIPTION: (Fig. 102) Adult females
1.0-1.4 mm long and only slightly less in width.
DoRUM Membranous in young adult females,
except sparsely areolated around anal plates;
heavy sclerotization in older females, additional
cephalic sclerotization present. Body setae
sparse, very small. Small bilocular pores present.
Medial, cephalic, and 6 lateral oval areas
without bilocular pores and setae. Filamentous
ducts (Fig. 102, C) scattered over dorsum; more
numerous in marginal to submarginal area. Anal
plates (Fig. 102, D) elongate, each with 1 discal,
1 subdiscal, and 1 apical seta.
VENTER-Interantennal setae 16, long, slender.
Quinquelocular pores (Fig. 102, G) in spiracular
furrows, each furrow ca. 2 pores wide.
Multilocular pores (Fig. 102, I) in vulvar area
only. MARGIN-Marginal setae (Fig. 102, A)
slender, acute, straight, or slightly curved, with
well developed base; ca. 18 between anterior
spiracular clefts. Spiracular setae (Fig. 102, B, F)


FhC~ A`


 "4


Map XLIII. Distribution of Vinsonia stellifera.


BIOLOGY: Little information has been pub-
lished on the biology of this scale.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Considered a
potential threat to Florida because of its occur-
rence on citrus, mango, and many ornamentals.
REMARKS: This scale insect is very distinctive
because of its star-shaped wax cover and is easily
distinguished from other wax scales in the genus
Ceroplastes. Vinsonia stellifera has more than 1
pair of interantennal setae, whereas Ceroplastes
spp. have only 1 pair of interantennal setae.
MATERIAL STUDIED: PUERTO RICO: 1(1),
Sapote achras, 5-X-1972, L. F. Martorell;
VIRGIN ISLANDS: St. Croix, 1(1), Cocos
nucifera, 21-III-1973, G. W. Dekle.