Wax mealybug | Venezuela
 The females create a waxy cocoon, similar to a snail. |
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Greetings, CCS biodiversity observers, I'm sharing another invertebrate observation. I made an observation during my own research, given the small size of these little creatures.
I found them on a potted papyrus plant. I noticed some small formations that, at first glance, looked like tiny white snails stuck to the leaves and stems. But something was strange: they didn't move at all; day after day, I saw them in the same place. My curiosity got the better of me, and Google Lens was my first stop. Surprised, they turned out to be insects.
Close Up . I thought they were snails (mollusks), but they turned out to be insects.
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| I wasn't familiar with this species, but it turned out they weren't mollusks, but rather intriguing insects from the superfamily Coccoidea, commonly known as wax scales or mealybugs. The Coccoidea are a superfamily of hemipteran insects that have a particular characteristic: The females produce wax with which they build a rounded cocoon. This wax "armor" serves as camouflage and protection against predators. Some are used to produce varnish or dyes. [2] The largest measured about 3 millimeters in length, although the cocoon makes them appear larger. |
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Habitat and behavior.
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| They love plants, feeding on their sap and having mouthparts that allow them to pierce plant tissue. They are small plant "vampires", but not all of them cause serious damage. Some are used to produce varnish or dyes. [2] The most curious thing is their sexual behavior. The females are the easiest to see. Once they build the cocoon, they do not move. Inside these, they lay their eggs (see photos below). The males are small, winged, and their only mission is to fertilize the females, living a very short time. |
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Clasification
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| These insects belong to the order Hemiptera, the same as bed bugs and aphids. Within this order, they are in the superfamily Coccoidea. Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hemiptera Suborder: Sternorrhyncha Family: Coccidae Genus: Ceroplastes Sources: See [1] y [2] |
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Info: |
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| Equipment: | Umidigi Cell Phone A7S Camera |
| Mode: | Macro Mode. Layer: 3:4 |
| Author: | @joslud |
| Edition: | Lightroom |
| Location: | intdoor |
| Date: | Wed, Sep/10/ 25 |
| In Inaturalist.org | Coordenadas: 9.1529166667, -70.6938166111 género Ceroplastes by @joslud |
See you soon
Sources
Images
- Images and screenshots are my property. Taken with my UMIDIGI phone. Also based on screenshots on Steemit.
- [2] Coccoidea in Wikipedia
 Original production by @joslud |
An interesting research of a wax mealybug.
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Welcome. 🦗🦋🕷 Honorary entry.
I was completely unaware of the insect shared in your post, but I recognized it after reading your post and seeing the photographs. I really enjoyed your post and the descriptions in your post.