Scale on Malphighia

It was identified as a wax scale (order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha, family Coccidae, soft scales, genus Ceroplastes). It is similar to C rusci, which is abundant in a couple of places in Darwin in northern Australia, but this species is recorded primarily as a temporate species. A number of other species also look like those in your photos including C floridensis and C sinensis, and are shown in photographs Ting Kui Qin and Penny Gullan. 1994. Taxonomy of the Wax Scales in Australia, Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 923-59. Further information can be found on the ScaleNet website at www.sel.barc.usda.gov/scalenet/scalenet.htm

It is not possible ot identity the scales to species without examination of microscope slide-mounted specimens. Heavy infestations cause sooty mould and can cause defoliation.

It was not thought to be not C rusci and C rubens was suggested; however, not all agreed that it was C rubens and cited Qin and Gullan. 1994. Taxonomy of the Wax Scales (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Ceroplastinae) in Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 923-959).