| Summary: | Wax scale (<em>Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccidae</em>), has become an increasingly concerning pest on crop plants and perennials in Sri Lanka. Recent field reports indicate outbreaks of wax scales population and rapid spread on a large number of economically important plants. A methodical study of this species has not been conducted and the identity of the species has not been confirmed yet. A field survey was conducted in three districts: Gampaha, Kalutara and Kandy, from July 2017 to August 2018, to identify the wax scale species causing the recent outbreaks and to record its distribution and host range. The wax scale species was identified as Ceroplastes rubens Maskell (pink wax scale) and infestation level of each host plant was presented. The species was prevalent on host-plants belonging to 28 families in all three districts surveyed, among the host-plants families, Araceae (16.9%), Anacardiaceae (16.1%), Myrtaceae (12.7%) and Rubiaceae (10.2%) found to be dominant. It was also found that the significantly higher (p<0.05) infestation level in Gampaha district in compared to Kalutara and Kandy districts. The necessary actions need to be taken to control pink wax scale to prevent further spreading into other areas of the country.
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