Aulacaspis difficilis (Cockerell)

Suh, Soo-Jung, 2013, On the armored scales, genus Aulacaspis Cockerell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), of Korea, Insecta Mundi 2013 (295), pp. 1-8 : 2

Aulacaspis difficilis (Cockerell)

( Figures 1 A-I)

Chionaspis difficilis Cockerell, 1896 [ Japan].

Field Characters. Adult female cover convex, circular white; shed skins usually subcentral, yellowish orange. Male cover smaller, felted, white, elongate, with slight median carina; shed skin yellowish ( Figures 1 A-B).

Slide-mounted Characters. Adult female with 3 pairs of well-developed lobes, fourth lobes with lateral lobule represented by series of low points. Median lobes broadly rounded usually more than 2 times width of 2 nd lobes, separated by space 0.2 times width of median lobes, with strongly sclerotized yoke, medial margin parallel sided one-third to one-half length of lobe then strongly divergent to apices, projecting or somewhat sunken into apex of pygidium; second and third lobes bilobed, significantly smaller than median lobes. Gland spine formula usually 1-2-3(4), with about 28 gland spines near each body margin anterior of fourth lobe area, medial lobes without gland spines between them. Macroducts on pygidium about same size, without duct between medial lobes; submedial ducts on segments 2 to 5, with 9 to 15 ducts each; submarginal ducts on segments 2 to 5, with 9 to 15 ducts each; marginal ducts on segments 5 to 7 with 1 to 2 ducts each. Perivulvar pores in 5 groups; approximately 82 pores on each side of body. Anterior spiracles with 46 to 50 pores, posterior spiracles with 11 to 20. Antennae each with 1 conspicuous seta. Body stout, dark purple, cephalothorax roundish expanded.

Material examined. Korea. Jeollanamdo (JN): Gugyedeung, 9 adult females (leaf), on Elaeagnus glabra (Elaeagnaceae) , 1-iv-2009 (S.J. Suh); Songho-ri, 5 adult females, same host, 2-iv-2009 (S.J. Suh); Wando arboretum, 5 adult females, same host, 10-v-2007 (S.J. Suh); Yesong-ri, 6 adult females, same host, 24-vii- 2012 (S.J. Suh). Gyeongsangnamdo (GN): Dangri-dong, 8 adult females (leaf), on Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae) , 4-v-2012 (Y.H. Lee).

Hosts. Elaeagnaceae : Elaeagnus glabra Thunb. , Elaeagnus pungens Thunb. , Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. , Elaeagnus sp. , Hippophae rhamnoides L.( Ben-Dov et al. 2012).

Distribution. China, Japan and Korea * ( Ben-Dov et al. 2012).

Figures

Figure 1. Aulacaspis difficilis (Cockerell); A-B. habitus, C. female, D. antennae, E. anterior spiracle, F. posterior spiracle, G. abdomen, H. perivulvar pores, I. median lobes.