Valid Names Results

Acanthococcus orzo Deeter, Miller & Powell, 2025 (Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Acanthococcus orzo Deeter, Miller & Powell 2025: 211. Type data: UNITED STATES: Florida, Gadsden Co., Quincy, ex. Muhlenbergia capillaris, 07/02/2024, by L.A. Deeter. Holotype, female, Type depository: Gainesville: Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, Florida, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: Same data (USNM, CSCA, NCSU, UCD) Illustr.

Common Names

• muhly grass felt scale DeeterMiPo2025

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 2 | Genera: 2

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• DeeterMiPo2025: pp.230 ( Adult (F) ) [Acanthococcus of Florida]

Remarks

• Systematics: The adult female of Ac. orzo is somewhat similar to that of Ac. dennoi and Ac. danthoniae. Ac. orzo differs from other described eriococcids by having: (i) four setae on each hind tibia, lacking a seta in the middle of the tibia length; (ii) three pairs of anal-ring setae; (iii) three to five (mostly four) large-sized enlarged setae on the margins of each abdominal segment; (iv) enlarged setae elongate-conical with acute to slightly rounded or slightly truncate apices, curved to straight, present on margins or dorsal submargins of posterior abdominal segments; and (v) microtubular ducts absent. (Deeter et al., 2025)
• Structure: In life: Body oblong elliptical, white to yellow in first-instar nymphs, yellow to mottled with purple in second-instar nymphs and adult females, and purple in gravid adult females. Short crystalline wax rods present on dorsum and body margins, curving posteriorly except for those on the head, which are straight. Venter with light dusting of white wax. Mature adult female situated within a long white felted ovisac, with yellow to purple eggs.
  Slide-mounted female: 1.7 mm long, 0.4 mm across widest part of thorax. Body oblong-elliptical. Anal lobes strongly protruding and marginally sclerotized, each with 3 dorsal elongate-conical enlarged setae with acute apices, anteromedial seta 29 μm, posteromedial seta 35 μm, lateral seta longest 40 μm, without microtubular ducts; each lobe with 3 ventral flagellate setae including anal-lobe setae (not including suranal setae) and 3 5-locular pores on left lobe, 2 5-locular pores on right lobe 2 5-locular pores on right lobe. (Deeter et al., 2025)
• Biology: Only observed on M. capillaris, never feeding within leaf sheath but always above ligule, within tubular space created by tightly involute leaf blade. First ovisac with eggs observed in May and male pupae first observed in March (Deeter et al., 2025).
• General Remarks: Description, illustration, and color photos of all life stages by Deeter et al. (2025).

Illustrations

Citations