Cerococcidae

Cerococcidae can be distinguished from other scale insect families by the presence of a protective waxy test with distinctive coloration and structural features. The family is divided into two morphological groups based on the presence or absence of anteroventral sclerotization on the venter of the anal lobes: Antecerococcus and Solenophora possess this sclerotization, while Asterococcus and Cerococcus lack it. Additional diagnostic characters include the absence of setae along the inner margin of each anal lobe and presence of a ventral seta posteriorly on each lobe in the Antecerococcus group. Generic identification requires examination of adult female morphology, particularly test structure and anal lobe characters.

Adult females produce a protective waxy test that shields the body. Tests are mostly creamy or varying shades of brown; some species display orange, yellow, red, pink, or white coloration. Male tests are smaller and narrower than female tests and develop during the second instar. In the genera Asterococcus and Solenophora, the shed skin of the first instar is incorporated into the test structure. Second instar females develop tests in Asterococcus and Solenophora, whereas in Cerococcus, test development occurs in the third instar.

The family has a worldwide distribution, though individual genera exhibit distinct geographic patterns. Antecerococcus is distributed globally but is most abundant in the western Palaearctic, western Oriental, and Afrotropical Regions. Asterococcus is restricted to the Oriental Region. Cerochiton is restricted to the southern Oriental Region. Cerococcus is restricted to Central and North America. Solenophora is known only from New Zealand.

In the United States, where several Cerococcus species have been studied, there is a single generation per year. Eggs overwinter inside the female test and hatch in spring. First instars emerge through a small hole at the back of the test. Second instars appear early in summer, with adults developing towards the end of summer. Egg-laying occurs in autumn.

• Boehmeria nivea - host plantAntecerococcus roseus has been observed on ramie (Urticaceae) in China

Females have three instar stages; males have five instar stages. Eggs are retained inside the female test and overwinter. First instars are ambulatory and disperse around the host plant. Sexual dimorphism in test development timing: males develop tests in the second instar; females develop tests in the second instar (Asterococcus, Solenophora) or third instar (Cerococcus). Males occur in most species.

First instar nymphs are ambulatory and actively disperse around the host plant after hatching from the female test. Eggs hatch within the protective maternal test and emerge through a small hole at the back.

Cerococcidae species serve as hosts for parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Antecerococcus roseus has been documented as a host for Microterys perlucidus and Metaphycus roseus in China.

Antecerococcus roseus has been recorded as a pest of cultivated ramie (Boehmeria nivea), a fiber crop, in China.

• other scale insect families (Coccoidea)Cerococcidae is distinguished by the combination of waxy test structure, anal lobe morphology (particularly anteroventral sclerotization), and specific instar development patterns. The family was historically confused with other pit scale groups but is now recognized as distinct based on adult female morphological characters.

• scale insects
• Sternorrhyncha
• Hemiptera
• Coccidomorpha
• wax tests
• sexual dimorphism

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Two new species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from China, parasitoid of Antecerococcus roseus (Green) (Hemiptera: Cerococcidae) on Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud
• A revision of the family Cerococcidae Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Coccomorpha) with particular reference to species from the Afrotropical, western Palaearctic and western Oriental Regions, with the revival of Antecerococcus Green and description of a new genus and fifteen new species, and with ten new synonomies