Cryptostigma Ferris, 1922

Kondo, Takumasa, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the myrmecophilous, meliponiphilous and rhizophilous soft scale genus Cryptostigma Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) 2709, Zootaxa 2709, pp. 1-72 : 7

Key to separate Cryptostigma Ferris from morphologically similar Houardia Marchal and Myzolecanium Beccari based on adult female and first-instar nymphs

1. Adult female. Pregenital disc-pores completely absent. With several subcircular groups of simple disc-pores present submarginally. Anal plates together pyriform. First-instar nymph. Marginal setae strongly bent near apex. Stigmatic setae present in two opposite groups on each edge of a deep stigmatic cleft. Anal plates together pyriform. Known from the Ethiopian region ................................................................................................................. Houardia Marchal

- Adult female. Pregenital disc-pores present. Without several subcircular groups of simple disc- pores present submarginally, although a single subcircular group of pores may occur laterad to each spiracular sclerotization. Anal plates together quadrate or subcircular, rarely pyriform. First-instar nymph. Marginal setae usually straight, rarely with strongly bent apex. Stigmatic setae present on deepest part of stigmatic cleft, not present in two opposite groups on each edge of stigmatic cleft. Anal plates together quadrate. Not known from the Ethiopian region. ..................... 2

2. Adult female. Dorsal microducts with very long inner ductules (about 20 times the length of the width of the outer rim of the duct), except for M. kibarae in which they are short and similar to ventral microducts; pregenital discpores always restricted to small area around vulva; stigmatic setae present or absent; if present, numerous (20–100); ventral microducts appearing bilocular, with long inner ductules; legs either reduced or completely absent; anal plates with 15–50 setae on dorsal surface. First-instar nymph. Antennae 6 segmented; with a seta present near each coxa; area just above anal plates membranous, not showing signs of sclerotization; with 6 ventral submedian setae (known from the Australasian region) ........................................................................................ Myzolecanium Beccari

- Adult female. Dorsal microducts not as long as above, usually each ductule less than 10 times the length of the width of the outer rim of the duct. Pregenital disc-pores either restricted to around vulva or extending onto anterior abdominal segments; stigmatic setae either absent or less than 3; ventral microducts appearing unilocular, with short inner ductules (except for C. reticulolaminae Morrison in which they are as long as its dorsal microducts); legs reduced, often represented by a group of setae and a small sclerotic plate, never completely absent, although often hard to detect; anal plates with 4–21 setae on dorsal surface. First-instar nymph. Antennae 5 or 6 segmented; without a seta present near each coxa; with 1 or 2 membranous folds just above anal plates; usually with 3 ventral submedian setae, but rarely up to 5, or many setae present on all abdominal segments and thorax, never in 6 pairs (known from the Neotropical region) ......................................................................................................................... Cryptostigma Ferris