Laminicoccus vitiensis (Green & Laing)

Williams, D. J. & Martin, J. H., 2005, (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), Zootaxa 804, pp. 1-12 : 8

Laminicoccus vitiensis (Green & Laing)

Pseudococcus vitiensis Green & Laing, 1924: 415 . Lectotype Fiji (BMNH) designated by Williams & Watson, 1988: 95.

Laminicoccus vitiensis (Green & Laing) , Williams, 1960: 402; Ben­Dov, 1994: 211. Laminicoccus cocois Williams, 1960: 403 ; Williams & Butcher, 1987: 91. Lectotype, Solomon Islands (BMNH) designated by Williams & Watson 1988: 95. Synonymised by Williams & Watson, 1988: 95.

Comments

Characters of Laminicoccus vitiensis are variable but the distinguishing features of the species are the presence of a circulus that is not divided by the intersegmental line, and multilocular disc pores present on the venter of the abdomen on segments IV–VII and posterior to the vulva. Small oral­collar tubular ducts, each narrower than a trilocular pore, are present medially on the venter of abdominal segments V–VII and posterior to the vulva. Larger ducts, each about as wide as a trilocular pore and more than twice as long as wide, with an obscure rim, are present on the margins of the dorsum and medially on the prothorax, metathorax, and anterior abdominal segments; others are present on the ventral margins.

This species differs from L. pandani mainly in possessing a circulus, and tubular ducts that are longer than wide, each with an obscure rim. In L. pandani a circulus is absent and the tubular ducts are each about as long as wide, with a more definite rim.

Distribution

FIJI, Lau Islands; Taveuni, Viti Levu, on Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae) , Roystonia regia (Arecaceae) . NIUE, on C. nucifera . SOLOMON ISLANDS, Ontong Java, on C. nucifera . TONGA, Tongatapu group, on C. nucifera , Freycinetia urvilleana (Pandanaceae) . VAN­ UATU, Ambae; Ambryn; Aoba; Maewa; Malekula; Tanna; on C. nucifera .