PUTOIDAE Tang

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 : 350-352

Family PUTOIDAE Tang

Common names: Giant mealybugs or putoids.

Background: This family consists of one extant genus containing 47 species (and possibly a second, monotypic genus known only from a fossil) ( García Morales et al. 2016). It was regarded as part of the family Pseudococcidae until its elevation to family status by Hodgson and Foldi (2006), based mostly on adult male morphology (the male having a row of 8–15 (usually 14) simple eyes surrounding the head, whereas in Pseudococcidae and Rhizoecidae there are usually only 4). Molecular evidence supports its familial status separate from the Pseudococcidae ( Gullan & Cook 2007; Choi & Lee 2021). The morphology of adult female putoids is like that of mealybugs ( Pseudococcidae ) except for the presence of three or four campaniform sensilla on each surface of each trochanter ( Fig. 31 ) ( Pseudococcidae and Rhizoecidae normally have only two), and often a pair of denticles on the base of each claw (absent in Pseudococcidae and Rhizoecidae ). The status of the Putoidae remains controversial. Putoids occur in the Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions; they are absent from the Afrotropical and Australasian regions ( García Morales et al. 2016).

Appearance in life: Putoids are found on all parts of a wide variety of plants, even occasionally on the subterranean crown of grasses. Adult female quite large, about 5.0 mm long, covered with thick tufts of mealy white wax (often with a central ridge) and broad lateral wax filaments; when the wax is removed, the body has two longitudinal grey-to-green dorsal stripes. Legs and antennae well developed and dark brown. Most species do not produce an ovisac.

Identification: As recommended for Pseudococcidae by Sirisena et al. (2013), the best specimens for identification are young adult females just after the final moult, before the body has become distended with developing eggs. Body about 5.0 mm long, broadly oval, with large cerarii, ostioles, swirled trilocular pores and well-developed antennae and legs; trochanters each with three or four placoid sensilla on each surface; and claws often with a basal denticle in addition to a subapical denticle; translucent pores present on hind legs. Circulus usually present ( Miller et al. 2014).

Economic importance: None in Africa.

Biology: Putoids reproduce sexually; there are four instars in the female and five in the male ( Miller et al. 2014). Usually there is one generation per year, although in a few species a generation can take several years. Early instars overwinter under bark before migration to twigs and leaf bases in early spring. Adults appear in late spring/ early summer, and males are common. Eggs are laid just after midsummer. Putoids feed on a wide range of hosts, particularly on Pinophyta, Poaceae and some woody shrubs, attacking all plant parts (including the subterranean crown of Poaceae in some Nearctic species) ( Miller et al. 2014).

Checklist and distributions of Putoidae in continental Africa (1 genus, 3 species)

Puto peyerimhoffi (Vayssière, 1923) : Algeria

Puto subericola (Vayssière, 1927) : Morocco

Puto superbus (Leonardi, 1907) : Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia

Figures

FIGURE 31. Puto subericola (Vayssière), adult female, reproduced from Danzig & Gavrilov-Zimin (2014: 160, Fig. 2.1.1-8) with the authors’ permissions. Note that each trochanter has three campaniform sensilla on each surface.