Descriptions and Illustrations of the First Instar of Diaspis boisduvalli Signoret (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae)

The immature stages of many representatives of the Diaspididae have not been studied in detail. This work adds to the current knowledge by providing descriptions and illustrations for the male and female first-instar nymphs of Diaspis boisduvalli Signoret. Examination of the first instars indicated that the species followed similar patterns that were exhibited by D. echniocacti and D. bromeliae. Differences between D. boisduvalli and the other species included number of microducts on dorsum and differences in the pygidium.