Fights in a tight space: wax scale Ceroplastes deodorensis Hempel (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae) and associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) on a new host plant (Arecaceae)

Abstract The hosts of Ceroplastes deodorensis Hempel (Hemiptera: Coccidae) belong to the families Annonaceae and Moraceae, which are exclusively recorded in Brazil. In this report, we document for the first time the occurrence and impact of C. deodorensis on adult plants of the dwarf date palm, Phoenix roebelenii O’Brien (Arecaceae), in Brazil. The wax scale was collected and examined on P. roebelenii at the “Luiz de Queiroz” campus in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, between April 2024 and March 2025. The population of C. deodorensis peaked from April to October 2024, causing damage solely to the leaves (leaflets) of the dwarf date palm, which manifested as yellowing and drying. The scale insect was found to be parasitized by four species of Chalcidoidea from four families: Aprostocetus sp. (Eulophidae), Brasema sp. (Eupelmidae), Metaphycus floridensis Santos & Tavares (Encyrtidae) (new record), and Scutellista caerulea (Fonscolombe) (Eunotidae) (new record). Notably, M. floridensis and S. caerulea comprised over 90% of the total parasitoids collected. This study serves to compile and update information regarding the hosts and parasitoids of C. deodorensis.