Gigantococcus Pesson & Bielenin

Watson, Gillian W., 2022, Towards identification of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) of continental Africa: 2. Checklists and keys to six archaeococcoid families, Zootaxa 5105 (3), pp. 301-356 : 333

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5105.3.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:187B04D7-4C35-4E27-9B2D-A616BF59F380

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6343196

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D687D0-FF86-987A-19E8-C851FA2EE61D

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Gigantococcus Pesson & Bielenin
status

 

Genus Gigantococcus Pesson & Bielenin View in CoL View at ENA

Gigantococcus View in CoL is an African genus of 19 described species, 13 of which occur in eastern Africa ( García Morales et al. 2016). Woody hosts are preferred. They are relatively large insects ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 ) so heavy infestations extract significant volumes of sap and can cause drying of tissues, premature leaf drop, honeydew fouling, sooty mould growth and reduction in fruit harvests ( Kinuthia & Mwangi 1988). It is possible that “ Steatococcus View in CoL ” hystrix may belong in Gigantococcus View in CoL (see comments below).

Key to most of the species of Gigantococcus View in CoL found in continental Africa, from Unruh and Gullan (2008). See Figs 14 View FIGURE 14 and 22. View FIGURE 22

1(0) Ovisac band present. Marsupium absent................................................................... 2

- Ovisac band absent. Marsupium present or absent........................................................... 8

2(1) Adult female very large (> 8 mm long,> 5 mm wide). Simple multilocular pores in ovisac band each with a quadrilocular or quinquelocular centre........................................................................... maximus View in CoL

- Adult female not especially large (4–6 mm long, 3–5 mm wide). Simple multilocular pores in ovisac band each with a bilocular or trilocular centre.................................................................................... 3

3(2) Inner ovisac band composed of simple multilocular pores, each with a bilocular centre only. Compound multilocular pores, each with a quadrilocular or quinquelocular centre and 8–12 rectangular outer loculi, present on ventral derm. Wax white, quite long and rather wispy on posterior margin................................................ bimaculatus ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 )

- Inner ovisac band composed of simple multilocular pores, each with a trilocular centre. Compound multilocular pores, each with a quadrilocular or quinquelocular centre and 8–12 rectangular outer loculi, absent. Wax colour and texture various... 4

4(3) Ventral surface with compound pores, each with an 8‒12-lobed centre and 6–8 elongate reniform outer loculi........... 5

- Compound pores with this structure absent................................................................. 7

5(4) Head and thorax with compound pores forming marginal clusters, each pore with a large trilocular centre and 6–8 reniform outer loculi.......................................................................................... 6

- Compound pores with this structure absent........................................................ schoutedeni

6(5) Head and thorax with marginal clusters each of 3 or 4 compound pores. Wax yellow and white................ alboluteus

- Head and thorax with compound pores occurring singly and in pairs. Wax pale yellow....................... pattersoni

7(6) Dorsal surface covered with pores of 2 types: simple multilocular pores, each with a trilocular centre and 6–9 evenly distributed outer loculi, not elongate in profile ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ); and distinctive compound multilocular pores, each with a 6-lobed centre and 6–8 elongate, slightly reniform, outer loculi ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ). Wax white....................................... nigroareolatus

- Dorsal surface covered with pores of 1 type: multilocular pores, each with a trilocular centre, 3 pairs of outer loculi and a distinctive elongate profile ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ). Compound multilocular pores with this structure absent. Wax white....... brachystegiae

8(1) Marsupial band forming a sclerotized V shape with lateral wings. Dorsum with large multilocular pores, each 17–20 μm in diameter, with a trilocular (sometimes bilocular) centre and 4–6 outer loculi (arranged in pairs).............. theobromae

- Marsupial band forming a sclerotized semicircle. Dorsum with small multilocular pores, each 10–12 μm in diameter, with a trilocular centre and 6–9 outer loculi (not arranged in pairs)................................................... 9

9(8) Setae on most antennal segments and around margin very long, each up to 1500 μm long.................................................................................................... gowdeyi , madagascariensis, bicolor

- Setae on antennae and around margin only 900–1000 μm long..................... caudatus , euphorbiae , longisetosus

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hemiptera

Family

Margarodidae

Loc

Gigantococcus Pesson & Bielenin

Watson, Gillian W. 2022
2022
Loc

Steatococcus

Ferris 1921
1921
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