A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males
Author
Hodgson, Chris
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-04-16
4765
1
1
264
journal article
22494
10.11646/zootaxa.4765.1.1
8af5a092-f062-48c7-8d7c-f96ae6282bfa
1175-5334
3774174
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C442D94C-0EB4-4509-B762-913707214819
Tectococcus
Hempel 1900
Tectococcus
Hempel 1900
, 379, 406.
Type
species:
Tectococcus ovatus
Hempel
by monotypy and original designation.
Introduction.
Tectococcus
currently includes a single species from
Brazil
,
T. ovatus
, which induces circular galls on the young leaves and buds of mainly
Psidium cattleianum
(Myrtaceae)
but also on
Psidium variabile
[spelt wrong in
García Morales
et al
. (2019)
] and
Daphnopsis racemose
(Thymelaeaceae)
(
Vitorino
et al
. 2000
). In addition,
Hoy (1963)
gives
Aplidium variabile
(Polyclinidae)
as a host plant but no such name appears to exist. Nymphs may also establish galls on young branches and even on the developing fruit.
Vitorino
et al
. (2000)
state that reproduction is facultatively parthenogenetic, although males appear in late Spring and sometimes in late Autumn. There are probably 2 generations a year, one in May and June (sometimes into July), and another in January and February (
Vitorino
et al
. 2000
). The adult female and adult male were described by Viterino
et al
. (2000) and the adult female, firstinstar nymph and adult male were redescribed by
Hodgson and Miller (2010)
.
Generic diagnosis based on adult male morphology
(
Fig. 40
).
Body
: abdomen attenuated, about 2/3
rd
of body length, tapering to a narrow penial sheath; setae few, perhaps mainly hs.
Head:
simple pores present
; ocular sclerite with a few reticulations; dorsal mid-cranial ridge absent; preocular ridge absent;
antennae 8 segmented
; flagellar segments with hs and fs;
capitate setae present on apical four segments
.
Thorax:
scutal setae present laterally; scutellum with scutellar setae; basisternal setae present; metasternum with few setae; metaprecoxal ridge absent; postmetaspiracular setae possibly absent; tibia and tarsus setose, most setae spur-like; tarsi 2 segmented;
claw digitules capitate but one narrower than other
; claws elongate, with a denticle.
Abdomen:
elongate, narrowing to a narrow penial sheath;
glandular pouches absent
on segment VIII; setae absent on segment IX but with 2 pairs near apex of style; style narrow, becoming pointed posteriorly.
FIGURE 40.
Tectococcus ovatus
Hempel. Macropterous
male. (
Eriococcidae, Gondwanan
group). Where X=pores on head.
Comment.
The adult male of
T. ovatus
is easily separated from other known adult male eriococcids from the Neotropics by the following combination of characters: (i) abdomen much elongated, narrowing to a narrow penial sheath; (ii) body setae very few, all hs; (iii) antennae 8 segmented; (iv) capitate setae present on apical 4 antennal segments, and (v) pores present on head. The elongate abdomen is somewhat similar to those found in various Australian genera – see the above key for genera in the Gondwanan group for differences.