Stibococcus Miller & González 1975

Hodgson, Chris, 2020, A review of neococcid scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) based on the morphology of the adult males, Zootaxa 4765 (1), pp. 1-264 : 95-96

Stibococcus Miller & González 1975

Stibococcus Miller & González 1975 , 154–156. Type species: Stibococcus cerinus Miller & González by monotypy and original designation.

Introduction. The genus Stibococcus contains one species, S. cerinus Miller & González , collected on Myrceugenia

bridgesii ( Myrtaceae ) in Chile. The adult female is naked, shiny and pale green. It secretes a long ovisac from wax glands on the underside of its abdomen. Immature stages feed on the underside of the host plant leaves, causing a gall-like distortion which is visible from above ( Miller & González, 1975). The adult male was originally described and illustrated by Miller and González (1975). The same illustration is repeated here ( Fig. 38 ).

Generic diagnosis based on adult male morphology ( Fig. 38 ). Body: abdomen more or less parallel sided; body setae few, perhaps mainly hs. Head: simple pores present; ocular sclerite with a few reticulations; dorsal midcranial ridge well developed; preocular ridge short; genal setae present; antennae 10 segmented; flagellar segments either without fs or with hs and fs indistinguishable; capitate setae present on apical antennal segment only. Thorax: prosternal median ridge present; scutal setae present laterally; scutellum with scutellar setae; postmesospiracular setae present; basisternal setae present; metasternum with few setae; metaprecoxal ridge absent; postmetaspiracular setae possibly absent; tibial and tarsal setae apparently all setose; tarsi 2 segmented; claw digitules capitate; claws elongate, usually with a denticle. Abdomen: glandular pouches present on segment VIII; penial sheath with longest setae posteriorly; style broad anteriorly, becoming sharply pointed posteriorly and only a little longer than basal width of segment IX.

Comment. Adult males of S. cerinus are rather similar to those of Carpochloroides viridis , also from the Neotropics. For main differences see key to the Gondwanan group of eriococcids above.

Figures

FIGURE 38. Stibococcus cerinus Miller & González. Macropterous male. (Eriococcidae, Gondwanan group) (after Miller & Gonzalez, 1975). Where C=loculate pores of glandular pouch and X=pores on head.