Valid Names Results

Acanthococcus multispinus Maskell, 1879 (Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Acanthococcus multispinus Maskell 1879: 217. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: on common broom and Buddleja sp. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; Canberra: Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Entomology, Australia; London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: The hosts in the original description probably are incorrect and the correct host is Knightia excelsa. Illustr.
• Eriococcus multispinus (Maskell, 1879); Maskell 1887a: 94. change of combination
• Nidularia multispinus (Maskell, 1879); Lindinger 1933a: 116. change of combination
• Acanthococcus multispinosus Maskell, 1879; Ferris 1955a: 94. misspelling of species epithet Notes: Ferris (1955a) apparently confused "multispinosus" with "multispinus" since he gave the author as Maskell. The author of multispinosus is Kuhlgatz; the author of multispinus is Maskell.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 3 | Genera: 3

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• TangHa1995: pp.451, 648 ( Adult (F) ) [Eriococcus species]

Remarks

• Systematics: Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae short, cone shaped, sides straight, apices rounded, 2 sizes of setae, large size forming 3 longitudinal lines on each side of abdomen, small size scattered over surface, some microtubular ducts associated with setal bases; anal lobes with 3 enlarged setae conspicuously smaller than other dorsal setae; microtubular ducts elongate, without sclerotized areas (Hoy, 1962). According to Brittin (1916), Maskell confused Eriococcus multispinus with E. pallidus in his 1879 publication. In this description it is evident that Maskell included both species. The body color is typical of E. multipsinus which is pink versus green in E. pallidus, but the spine distribution and antennae are typical of E. pallidus. Hoy (1962) restricted E. multispinus to specimens collected and identified by Maskell on Knightia. The original Maskell description in 1879 indicates that the type material was collected from "common broom plant" [Cytisus] and from "Budlaea" [sic]. However, according to Hoy (1962), the type material of E. multispinus was collected from New Zealand on Knightia, 1878, by Maskell. According to a hand written note by Morrison from the USNM collection concerning the original Maskell slides, "there are two slides of this species, the first evidently the type, of adult female, N.Z.; on Knightia, 1878." In 1885, 1887, 1891 and 1892 Maskell sorted out the differences between E. multispinus and E. pallidus. His illustration in 1887 shows E. multispinus with a pink body, roughened ovisac, several sizes of enlarged setae, antenna with the third segment only slightly longer than the rest and an adult male. He shows E. pallidus with a green body, smooth ovisac, one basic size of enlarged setae, antennae with third segment conspicuously longer than other antennal segments, and without a male. We therefore, go along with Hoy's restriction of E. multispinus to specimens on Knightia and consider E. pallidus to occur on a wide range of hosts.
• Structure: Sac is dull yellow, nearly cylindrical, with a spinose surface. Adult female is elongate oval in form, dull pink in color, covered thinly with whitish meal. Adult male is orange red with long wings. It undergoes its transformation in a sac resembling that of the female (Maskell, 1879).
• General Remarks: Because of the confusion concerning the identity of this species and E. pallidus we are unable to differentiate bibliographic information. Most detailed description and illustration by Hoy (1962).

Illustrations

Citations