Cladistic-biogeography
Guides
Ceroplastes sinensis
Chinese Wax Scale
Ceroplastes sinensis is a cosmopolitan scale insect pest of commercial citrus and other woody plants. Native to Central or South America based on cladistic analysis, it has established populations across temperate regions including Australia, New Zealand, Mediterranean Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. The species produces a distinctive waxy covering and completes a single annual generation in temperate climates. It has become a significant agricultural pest, particularly in citrus groves, prompting development of integrated pest management sampling protocols and biological control efforts.