Cornuaspis beckii

Definition

A species of armored scale insect (family Diaspididae, order Hemiptera) described by Borchsenius in 1963. A tropical to subtropical pest that infests citrus and related Rutaceae, forming dense populations on leaves, fruit, and twigs beneath protective waxy coverings. Formerly treated as Lepidosaphes beckii; transferred to Cornuaspis based on morphological revision of scale-cover architecture and pygidial characters. Heavy infestations cause chlorosis, fruit blemishing, and premature drop, with economic significance in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and New World citrus regions.

Etymology

Genus from Latin cornu (horn) + Greek aspis (shield), referring to the horned or pointed scale cover; species epithet honors an entomologist (likely Beck, collector or early worker on diaspidids).

Example

Cornuaspis beckii is intercepted at ports on imported citrus nursery stock; quarantine protocols require fumigation or hot-water treatment because the sessile adult females and eggs beneath the hard scale cover resist contact insecticides.

Synonyms

• Lepidosaphes beckii

Related Terms

• Diaspididae
• armored scale
• Lepidosaphes
• citrus pest
• Pygidium
• scale cover
• Hemiptera
• Sternorrhyncha

Usage Notes

Taxonomic placement shifted from Lepidosaphes to Cornuaspis in revisionary work on diaspidid genera; older literature uses the synonym. Identification requires microscopic examination of the pygidial sclerotization and marginal macroducts, not gross scale-cover shape alone. Not to be confused with the more widespread purple scale Lepidosaphes beckii sensu auct. (a name historically confused with this species).