Scale elongate. pale to reddish brown, about 2.5 mm long. Slide-mounted specimens about 1.0 mm long: elongate-oval, widest at 1st or 2nd abdominal segment; membranous except for pygidium: lateral lobes of abdominal segments moderately developed. Head straight to rounded.
Pygidium with apex straight to slightly rounded. Median lobes well developed. Parallel, the space between a little narrower than width of 1 lobe: each lobe with 2 notches present on inner edge and with l or 2 notches on outer edge. 2nd lobes each with inner lobule about 1/2 width of a median lobe, outer lobule about 1/2 width of inner lobule. Ventral paraphyses of lobes well developed. Gland spines usually surpassing length of lobes. there being 2 between median lobes, 2 between each median and 2nd lobe; pairs of gland spines present on margins of segments forward to 3rd abdominal segment; rarely 3 on segment 3. Marginal macroducts numbering 6 on each side. A single microduct, about same length as a marginal macroduct, usually situated on midline just anterior to median gland spines, and a similar duct present just lateral to each 1st marginal macroduct; orifices of the microducts sometimes difficult to detect. Dorsal macroducts about 1/2 width and length of marginal macroducts. Segment 6 usually with 2 submedian ducts set close together present on each side, occasionally with 3 and rarely with 4. Anterior ducts arranged in small submarginal and submedian groups as far forward as segment 2. Other ducts present marginally to mesothorax. Lateral tubercles small, sclerotised and pointed, present between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd segments; tubercles on 4th segment blunt and not sclerotised; each tubercle with an accompanying duct. Anus situated at base of pygidium.Venter of pygidium with 5 groups of perivulvar pores, totalling 25-30. Microducts present in more or less single rows across abdominal segments: a few also present near posterior spiracles, near margins of mesothorax and on head. Duct tubercles few, present in groups on metathorax and 1st abdominal segments, there being also 2 or 3 on margins of 2nd abdominal segment. Small ducts present on margins of mesothorax, metathorax, and 1st abdominal segment. Antennae each with 2 long setae. Anterior spiracles each with 2 or 3 disc pores.
Biology
Detailed description of life history by Swailem (1972 & 1973).
Structure
Female scale elongate, narrow, 2.5 mm long, dull pale brown to shiny reddish brown, exuviae same color. Male scale pale brown, 1.2 mm long. Adult female about 1.0 mm long, elongate-oval, widest across the 2nd abdominal segment; derm membranous except for pygidium. 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments each with a small pointed marginal tubercle which is heavily sclerotized (Williams, 1960c).
Systematics
L. tapleyi is close to L. pallidula, but differs from it as follows: the marginal tubercles on the 2nd and 3rd segments are always pointed and heavily sclerotised, whereas in L. pallidula only the tubercles on the 2nd segment are pointed, those on the 3rd are flat and rounded. The submarginal tubercles on the 2nd segment in L. tapleyi are always 3 in number but there are 5-6 in L. pallidula. Posteriorly the gland spines in L. tapleyi are always in pairs whereas in L. pallidula there are usually 3-4 on the 3rd and 4th segments (Williams, 1960c).
Economic Importance & Control
Lepidosaphes tapleyi was observed causing severe, but localised damage to sisal on the sides of dusty roads (Williams, 1960c).
Foes
COLEOPTERA Coccinellidae: Chilochorus sp., Scymnus sp., Stethorus sp.
HYMENOPTERA Aphelinidae: Aphytis chrysomphali, Encarsia citrina.NEUROPTERA Chrysopidae: Chrysopa vulgaris.
General Remarks
Detailed descriptions and illustrations by Williams (1960c) and by Williams & Watson (1988). Description and illustration of first-instar nymph by Ghabbour (2001).
Keys Wat
