Valid Names Results
Acanthococcus confusus is now Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1893) (Dactylopiidae: Dactylopius)
Acanthococcus confusus is also an old combination for the names below:Nomenclatural History
- Coccus confusus Cockerell 1893dd: 1043. replacement name
- Acanthococcus confusus Cockerell 1893gg: 373. Type data: USA: New Mexico, Las Cruces, on a plant of Cactaceae.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; junior homonym Notes: a junior secondary homonym of Acanthococcus confusus (Maskell, 1892) Illustr.
- Coccus cacti confusus Cockerell, 1893; Cockerell 1896f: 34. change in status (level)
- Coccus tomentosus confusus Cockerell, 1893; Cockerell 1898v: 675. change of combination
- Coccus tomentosus newsteadi Cockerell 1898v: 675. junior synonym (discovered by DeLott1974a, 180).
- Pseudococcus confusus (Cockerell, 1893); Cockerell 1899n: 6. change of combination
- Pseudococcus tomentosus newsteadi (Cockerell, 1898); Cockerell 1899n: 5. change of combination Illustr.
- Pseudococcus confusus newsteadi (Cockerell, 1898); Cockerell 1899t: 284. change of combination Illustr.
- Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1893); Cockerell 1902k: 454. change of combination
- Dactylopius confusus newsteadi (Cockerell, 1898); Cockerell 1902k: 454. change of combination
- Coccus confusus capensis Green 1912a: 91. Type data: SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province, on Opuntia monacantha; collected Lounsbury. Syntypes, female, by subsequent designation Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by DeLott1974a, 180).
- Dactylopius newsteadi (Cockerell, 1898); Cockerell 1929: 329. change of combination Illustr.
- Dactylopius greenii Cockerell 1929: 329. replacement name Notes: Replacement name for Coccus confusus capensis Green, 1912; synonymy by De Lotto, 1974a: 180.
- Dactylopius confuses (Cockerell, 1893); Xie, et al. 2004a: 514. misspelling of species epithet
Common Names
- California cochineal scale Gill1993 McKenz1956
- california cochineal scale Dekle1965c Gill1993
- barbary fig cochineal scale AbdRabEv2021
Ecological Associates
Hosts:
Families: 1 | Genera: 5
- Cactaceae
- Austrocylindropuntia exaltata | PerezGKo1992 | (= Opuntia exaltata)
- Echinocactus | MerrilCh1923
- Haageocereus versicolor | PerezGKo1992 | (= Cereus versicolor)
- Maihueniopsis glomerata | Lizery1922 | (= Opuntia wetmorei)
- Opuntia aurantiaca | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia dillenii | Varshn1992
- Opuntia discata | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia elata | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia engelmannii | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia ficus-indica | ChavezTeCa2011 ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia fuliginosa | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia heliabravoana | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia humifusa | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia hyptiacantha | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia jaliscana | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia joconostle | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia monacantha | DeLott1974a PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia phaeacantha | ChavezTeCa2011
- Opuntia polyacantha | Ferris1919a PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia pubescens | Beards1966 PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia streptacantha | PerezGKo1992
- Opuntia stricta | PerezGKo1992 DeLott1974a Green1922 PerezGKo1992 Rao1951
- Opuntia tomentosa | PerezGKo1992 ChavezTeCa2011 Jashen1999b
Foes:
Families: 3 | Genera: 3
- Chamaemyiidae
- Leucopina bellula | GilreaSm1988
- Coccinellidae
- Hyperaspis trifurcata | Cadahi1984 Ghesqu1943 GilreaSm1988
- Pyralidae
- Laetilia coccidivora | GilreaSm1988 Vayssi1926 Vayssi1955
Associates:
Families: 3 | Genera: 3
- Cryptococcaceae
- Cryptococcus | GonzalHeBu2024
- Saccharomycetaceae
- Debaryomyces | GonzalHeBu2024
- Sporidiobolaceae
- Rhodotorula | GonzalHeBu2024
Geographic Distribution
Countries: 17
- Algeria | Miller1996 PerezGKo1992 Richar1976
- Argentina
- Mendoza | GermaiVaMa2010 Lizery1922 Vayssi1936a
- Australia
- Queensland | CouturMaRi1985 DeLott1974a PerezGKo1992
- Victoria | CouturMaRi1985 PerezGKo1992
- Bahamas | Miller1996 PerezGKo1992 Vayssi1936a
- Canada
- Saskatchewan | MawMo1980 Miller1996 PerezGKo1992 Silves1915a
- Cuba | Cocker1903c MerrilCh1923
- Egypt | AbdRabEv2021
- Ethiopia | DeLott1959
- Haiti | CouturMaRi1985 Miller1996 Newste1917b PerezG2008 PerezGKo1992 Vayssi1936a
- Mauritius | CouturMaRi1985 Miller1996
- Mexico | CouturMaRi1985 Ferris1955a MerrilCh1923
- Baja California Norte | DeLott1967a Ferris1955a MacGreSa1984 MerrilCh1923
- Chihuahua | Green1915b Lambor1915 MacGreSa1984
- Ciudad de México | MacGreSa1984 Newste1917a
- Durango | Miller1996 Vayssi1936
- Guanajuato | MacGreSa1984 Vayssi1936a
- Guerrero | MacGreSa1984 Miller1996 Newste1910
- Jalisco | MacGreSa1984 Miller1996 Newste1910c
- Morelos | CouturMaRi1985 MacGreSa1984 Miller1996
- Nuevo Leon | Miller1996 Richar1976
- Oaxaca | MacGreSa1984 Medler1980
- Puebla | Gowdey1917 MacGreSa1984 Miller1996 PerezGKo1992
- Sonora | Miller1996 Richar1971
- Tamaulipas | MacGreSa1984 Richar1971
- Veracruz | BenDov1994 ChavezTeCa2011 WilliaGr1992
- Zacatecas | BenDov1994 ChavezTeCa2011 McMull1978
- Pakistan | Varshn1992
- Peru | Hargre1937 Miller1996 PerezGKo1992
- South Africa | DeLott1974a DeLottNa1955 Miller1996 PerezGKo1992
- Sri Lanka | Varshn1992
- United States
- Arizona | Ferris1919a Ferris1955a Ghesqu1932 LePell1968 MerrilCh1923 Miller1996
- California | Ferris1955a Gill1993 MerrilCh1923 Miller1996 Richar1971
- Colorado | Cocker1929 HertinSi1972 MerrilCh1923 Miller1996
- Florida | DeLott1967a Miller1996
- Idaho | Gowdey1917 Miller1996
- Minnesota | Liegeo1944 Miller1996 Newste1910b
- Montana | Ferris1919a Laing1932
- Nebraska | Miller1996 Richar1971
- Nevada | Miller1996 Newste1917a
- New Mexico | Cocker1893dd Cocker1929 MerrilCh1923 Miller1996 PerezGKo1992 Richar1971 Vayssi1936a
- New York | LePell1968 Miller1996
- Oklahoma | GomezM1942 Miller1996
- South Carolina | Miller1996 Richar1971
- South Dakota | Medler1980 Miller1996
- Texas | Ferris1955a GilreaSm1987 Hargre1937
- Utah | Ferris1955a LePell1968 Miller1996
- Washington | CouturMaRi1985 Miller1996
- Zimbabwe | CouturMaRi1985 Whelan1965
Keys
- Gill1993: pp.148 ( Adult (F) ) [California USA]
- Ferris1955a: pp.86 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
Remarks
- Systematics: Insects with the typical morphology of this species were designated by this name (De Lotto 1974, Pérez-Guerra & Kosztarab 1992). Chavez, et al. (2011) designated a biotype 1 with the morphological characteristics diagnosed for D. confusus combined with characteristics corresponding to D. salmianus. Field observations show that these insects promote changes in the color of cladodes and fruits, and when the insects are closely gathered at the trunk-stem and stem-fruit joints, these parts are damaged and may detach from the main plant body. The insects were localized within the altitude range of 1654 m to 2773 m.
- Structure: Colour photograph given by Gill (1993).
- Biology: The bionomics in Texas was studied and described by Gilreath & Smith (1987; 1988). Gill (1993) indicates that it prefers the flat-padded Platyopuntia cacti. Chavez, et al. found that in Mexico, D. confusus grows mainly on the cladodes of tree and shrub cactus forms and on their prickly pear fruits in a predominantly desert habitat with scarce vegetation and arenosol, within the altitude range of 1200 m to 2547 m, which is higher than the previously reported altitude.
- Economic Importance: This species has been introduced into five countries as a biological control agent for suppressing Opuntia weeds; became established in Australia (Dodd, 1940); was established for a time in South Africa (Dodd, 1940; Annecke & Neser, 1977). Gilreath & Smith (1988) proved that natural enemies play a role in regulating population level of this scale on Opuntia cladophylls in Texas, USA. Goeden (1978) discussed the use of this species in biological control of Opuntia spp.
- General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Ferris (1955a), De Lotto (1974a), Perez Guerra & Kosztarab (1992) and by Gill (1993). Portillo (1995) distinguished between the fine cochineal species Dactylopius coccus and a group of wild cochineal species comprising D. austrinus, D. ceylonicus, D. confertus, D. confusus, D. opuntiae, D. salmianus, D. tomentosus and D. zimmermani.
Illustrations
Citations
- AdwanAbOm2024: phylogenetics, 4-5
- AndresDa1973: biological control, 11-28
- AnneckNe1977: biological control, distribution, host, 303-319
- AquinoGaCo1994: chromosomes, structure, 7-23
- BenDov2006b: catalog, taxonomy, 219-221
- BugajNJuKa2021: distribution, host, list, 298
- ChavezTeCa2011: distribution, host, 64-68
- ChavezTeFr2010: chemistry, 671-679
- Cocker1893dd: taxonomy, 1043
- Cocker1893gg: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 373
- Cocker1896f: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 34
- Cocker1898v: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 675
- Cocker1899n: distribution, host, taxonomy, 5-6
- Cocker1899t: taxonomy, 284
- Cocker1902k: taxonomy, 454
- Cocker1929: distribution, taxonomy, 329
- CookGu2004: taxonomy, 444
- DeHaroCl1995: taxonomy, 16-17
- DeLott1959: distribution, taxonomy, 151
- DeLott1974a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 180-184
- Dodd1927: biological control, distribution, economic importance, 1-44
- Dodd1940: biological control, 41-45,54-55,96-105
- FDACS2010: distribution, host, 3
- Ferris1919a: distribution, host, 20
- Ferris1955a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 88, 89
- Fester1943: chemistry, 195-196
- Gavril2018: reproduction, 228
- Gill1993: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 148-150
- Gilrea1985: disease transmission, distribution, ecology, host, life history, 1-202
- GilreaSm1987: biological control, distribution, host, life history, 768-774
- GilreaSm1988: biological control, distribution, economic importance, host, life history, 730-738
- Goeden1978: biological control, distribution, economic importance, host, 362,365,368
- GoedenAnFr1974: biological control, distribution, host, 490-495
- GonzalHeBu2024: endosymbiont, 2
- Green1912a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 80,89-93
- GullanCo2001: taxonomy, 91-99
- GullanCo2007: taxonomy, 413-425
- GwiazdVaDe2006: phylogenetics, 16
- Hamlin1924a: biological control, 447-460
- HoskinMcMu1988: biological control, distribution, host, 115-123
- KellyMoHa2022: natural enemies,
- KondoGu2022: economic importance, 1
- KozarDr1998f: catalog, 170-171
- LambdiJo2001: anatomy, structure, 113-117
- LazaroGoVa2022: distribution, host, natural enemies, 167
- Lindin1943a: taxonomy, 147
- Lizery1922: distribution, host, taxonomy, 110-111
- MacGreSa1984: distribution, host, taxonomy, 219-220
- Mann1969: distribution, economic importance, host, life history, 139-150
- MawMo1980: distribution, host, 208-211
- MazzeoNuRu2019: distribution, taxonomy, 4
- MerrilCh1923: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 279-280
- Miller1996: catalog, distribution, 71
- MohammGh2008: distribution, 150
- NanDeWu2013: phylogenetics, 173
- Pember1964: distribution, host, 689
- PerezG2008: distribution, 213
- PerezGKo1992: description, distribution, host, illustration, survey, taxonomy, 52-58
- Pettey1939: biological control, distribution, host, 413-415
- Pettey1941: biological control, distribution, host, 133
- Portil1995: distribution, host, 62-65
- PortilVi2006: biological control, distribution, host, 249-255
- Riddic1955: host, 11
- RossHaOk2012: host, phylogeny, 199
- SchmutKlLu1957: distribution, economic importance, host, 426
- SerranSoHa2013: chemistry, economic importance, 6081-6090
- Smit1952: taxonomy, 481-482
- SongWaTa2024: phylogeny, 4, 8-9
- Sweetm1935: biological control, 373-377
- Taylor1984: chemistry, economic importance, 22-25
- Varshn1992: distribution, host, taxonomy, 37
- VeaGr2016: evolution, 4
- VonEll2025: distribution, 22
- VonEllWa2019: phylogeny, 64
- Whelan1965: distribution, economic importance, host, 67
- Willia1985a: catalog, taxonomy, 219
- Willia2017a: catalog, list of species, 217
- WilliaBe2009: catalog, taxonomy, 12,17,24,34,46
- WilliaBe2015: taxonomy, 163, 164, 166
- XieXuZh2004a: chemistry, taxonomy, 512-518
- ZhangChSh2004: life history, 484-489
- ZhangShXu2004: distribution, host, 321-326
