FIRST RECORD OF INDIAN WAX SCALE - Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Coccidae) IN CROATIA

Sa？etak Indian wax scale Ceroplastes ceriferus (Fabricius, 1798) was found for the first time in Croatia in August 2017 on laurel plants (Laurus nobilis L.) in Crikvenica. According to DAISIE, this species is alien to Europe. Prior to this finding, the following species from the genus Ceroplastes Gray 1828 have been recorded in Croatia: Ceroplastes japonicus, Ceroplastes rusci and Ceroplastes sinensis. All recorded species are polyphagous pests that feed on numerous ornamental trees and shrubs as well as fruit species. Both C. ceriferus and C. japonicus feed primarily on laurel, C. rusci prefers feeding on fig plants, while C. sinensis has so far been recorded twice on citrus plants. Both C. japonicus and C. rusci are widespread along the entire Croatian Adriatic coast. Like other species from this genus, C. ceriferus is characterised by a very thick wax layer and abundant excretion of honeydew that is subsequently covered in sooty mould. Occurrence of sooty mould causes the most significant damage to the infested host plants