Aulacaspis tegalensis

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Sugarcane scale (Aulacaspis tegalensis)

Aulacaspis tegalensis, known as sugarcane scale or white scale, is a small scale insect in the Diaspididae family. It feeds on plant stems, and young nymphs (the first instar) help it spread to new plants. The species has several synonyms, including Aulacaspis major, Aulacaspis rutherfordi, and Chionaspis tegalensis. It is found in East Africa and southern Asia, with records from Madagascar, Kenya, Thailand, Tanzania, Taiwan, Reunion, Singapore, Uganda, Seychelles, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Indonesia, India, the Federated States of Micronesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The binomial name is Aulacaspis tegalensis (Zehntner, 1898).