ASTEROLECANIIDAE Cockerell, 1896

Williams, D. J., 2007, Scale insects of the families Asterolecaniidae and Eriococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in New Caledonia, Journal of Natural History 41 (21 - 24), pp. 1343-1366 : 1345-1346

ASTEROLECANIIDAE Cockerell

Type genus. Asterolecanium Targioni Tozzetti.

Comments

There is no general definition of this family at present containing about 25 genera. It is usually based on the characters of the adult females of the type genus Asterolecanium and its relatives in possessing 8-shaped pores often in a continuous row around the ventral margin. The anal lobes are sometimes present although little developed, the antennae are often reduced to tubercles, legs are often absent and stigmatic furrows may be present, each containing only one row of quinquelocular pores. The anal ring is sometimes cellular with setae or is reduced to a simple opening without pores or setae. One of the important characters of some genera is the presence of elongate tubular ducts slightly bent at an angle at the inner end.

Despite these distinctive characters, some genera are assigned to the family tentatively, having few of these characters, and such is the case with the new genus described herein.

In a study of the Coccoidea based on the characters of the adult male, Hodgson (2002) showed the family as a sister group on the same clade that comprises the families Diaspididae and Conchaspididae . There is added support for this relationship because species in these three families do not produce honeydew, as do most of the other families, and maybe they are parenchyma feeders but certainly not phloem feeders. It is difficult to understand, however, why Asterolecanium variolosum Ratzeburg should possess a filter chamber as described by Parr (1940). Phylogenetic (studies) based on molecular work by Cook et al. (2002), however, showed the Asterolecaniidae falling among the eriococcid taxa in all the analyses they presented.

Only two species in two genera in the family have been recorded from New Caledonia and a new genus and species, tentatively assigned to the family, are included here. The three genera can be separated by the following key.

Key to New Caledonian genera of the family Asterolecanidae

1 Dorsum and ventral margins with 8-shaped pores. Stigmatic furrows with quinquelocular pores present. Antennae reduced to tubercles. Legs absent, occasionally reduced to sclerotized areas each with a single claw. Anal lobes sometimes poorly developed or apex of abdomen rounded, with apical setae but not forming a cleft; without a large, entire plate-like area on dorsum forming lobes with apical setae..................... 2

– Dorsum without above characters but with an anal cleft and a large, entire platelike area on dorsum at base of cleft forming lobes at posterior edge. Antennae well developed, with eight segments. Legs well developed... Oacoccus gen. nov.

2 Dorsal tubes present near apex of abdomen.... Bambusaspis Cockerell – Dorsal tubes absent entirely...... Asterolecanium Targioni Tozzetti

Asterolecanium Targioni Tozzetti

Asterolecanium Targioni Tozzetti 1868, p 734 . Type species Coccus aureus Boisduval 1868, p 301 , by monotypy (5 Lecanium epidendri Bouché 1844, p 300 ).

Asterolecanium pustulans Cockerell

Asterodiaspis pustulans Cockerell 1892, p 143 .

Asterolecanium pustulans ( Cockerell 1893, p 8) ; Russell 1941, p 165; Williams and Watson 1990, p 196.

Comments

In an extensive revision of the genus Asterolecanium, Russell (1941) recorded this tropicopolitan species from New Caledonia, Iles des Pins, on Nerium sp. (Apocynaceae) and Grevillea robusta (Proteaceae) . Brun and Chazeau (1980, p 75) listed this scale insect as being of agricultural importance in New Caledonia, and Williams and Watson (1990) discussed the species from the tropical Pacific Region and recorded it from New Caledonia on Nerium oleander .

Bambusapsis Cockerell

Bambusapis Cockerell 1902, p 114. Type species Chermes miliaris Boisduval , by subsequent designation of Sanders 1906, p 3.

Bambusaspis bambusae (Boisduval)

Chermes bambusae Boisduval 1869, p 261 .

Asterolecanium bambusae (Boisduval) , Signoret 1870, p 280; Russell 1941, p 47.

Bambusaspis bambusae (Boisduval) , Borchsenius 1960, p 135; Williams and Watson 1990, p 201.

Comments

Russell (1941), apparently, first recorded this species from New Caledonia on bamboo and later Cohic (1956, 1958) discussed it from the Iles des Pins on Bambusa sp. (Poaceae) where it sometimes causes damage. Brun and Chazeau (1980) listed it as of agricultural importance and Williams and Watson (1990) discussed it from the tropical Pacific Region including New Caledonia.