Valid Names Results

Aolacoccus angophorae Gullan & Williams, 2016 (Eriococcidae: Aolacoccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Aolacoccus angophorae Gullan & Williams 2016: 89. Type data: AUSTRALIA, New South Wales: Sydney, Cremorne Point, under bark of Angophora, 10/15/1980, by A.M. Richards. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Canberra: Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Entomology, Australia; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: 5 slides, each with 1 adult female and 4 also with female's second-instar exuviae, 1 slide with 1 second-instar female exuviae and 5 embryos, 3 slides with 13, 10 or 2 first-instar nymphs respectively, 1 slide with 1 second-instar male and its first-instar exuviae, all with same data as holotype (8 slides in ANIC; 2 slides each with 1 adult female and its second-instar exuviae in ASCU); 4 slides, each with 1 adult female and its second-instar exuviae and 1 of these slides also with 1 first-instar nymph, 1 slide with 2 adult females and 3 second-instar exuviae, 1 slide with 16 embryos, all with same data as holotype except "B1" instead of "B3" (4 slides in ANIC; 2 slides each with 1 adult female and its second-instar exuviae in BMNH). Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:85E4AA88-B7D1-44A9-9ECF-6A929A208A2D No other scale insects closely resemble this species. Nucleotide sequence data from the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S) (L.G. Cook 2015, unpublished data) place this taxon with the Myrtaceae-feeding group of eriococcids, as recognised by Cook & Gullan (2004), which includes Cystococcus, and not close to Pseudochermes fraxini, which was sequenced by Gwiazdowski et al. (2006), nor to the Diaspididae. Gullan & Williams (2016) conclude that this taxon is convergently similar to one or more instars of Ps. fraxini, Phoenicoccus marlatti, halimococcids and a few diaspidids. Some morphological convergence of small scale insects that live hidden on the bark of their host plant might be expected. The adult male of A. angophorae has the general body and antennal form of the apterous adult male of Pseudochermes fraxini, as illustrated by Afifi (1968), except that the posterior of the abdomen of A. angophorae is more elongate and is telescopic, whereas the legs are more typical of alate adult male eriococcids than those of P. fraxini. Presumably the resemblance of males of A. angophorae and P. fraxini is convergence due to the adult males of both species being very small and wingless. The second-instar and adult females of the two taxa are extremely different in appearance.
• Structure: Adult female minute, <1 mm long, retained within the sclerotised cuticle of the second-instar female. In life, found on trunk and branches of Angophora trees, with each insect usually hidden under a thin layer of bark tissue. Body globular, margin not defined (lacking setae), with posterior of abdomen tapering to a rounded end. Derm mostly membranous, with segmentation indistinct to absent. Most body setae minute (each about 2 μm long) and sparsely distributed, but setae longer on posterior of abdomen. Macrotubular and microtubular ducts absent. Loculate pores absent dorsally, all quinquelocular (5 loculi) ventrally and present only on derm around each spiracle and in a cluster around vulva. Small disc-like structures, perhaps cicatrices, in cluster posterior to vulva. Antennae each a small, unsegmented tubercle bearing several fleshy setae. Frontal lobes and antennal tubercles absent. Spiracles well developed, subequal in size, each with muscle plate (apodeme) expanded medially. Legs absent. Vulva well developed. Anal lobes absent. Anal ring small, apparently ventrally located and partially sclerotised (Gullan & Williams, 2016). First-instar nymph (sex not determined). Body 230–255 μm long, 110–135 μm wide, ovoid, with posterior of abdomen (Fig. 4C) rounded, lacking distinct anal lobes, anus located ventrally. Margin not defined by differentiated setae. Derm membranous; segmentation discernible only on abdomen. Second-instar female body 550–1000 μm long, 500–900 μm wide, rounded, with posterior of abdomen tapering to a sclerotised and rounded knob, 65–90 μm long, that splits to become a hinged flap or operculum to allow emergence of crawlers. Anal lobes absent and anus not detected. Margin not defined, lacking setae. Derm membranous when young, becoming sclerotised with age, and with 12–17 rows of minute microtrichia ventromedially between spiracles. Segmentation not discerned (Gullan & Williams, 2016). Second-instar male on bark of host plant; in white waxy test of typical eriococcid type. Body 500–780 μm long, 300–455 μm wide, ovoid, with posterior of abdomen rounded, lacking distinct anal lobes and anus located ventrally. Margin not defined by differentiated setae. Derm membranous but with rows of minute microtrichia ventromedially between thoracic legs. Segmentation distinct dorsally, weakly indicated on ventral abdomen. (Gullan & Williams, 2016). Adult male. Mounted material (notes based on 2 adult males, one poorly cleared, other pharate in pupal cuticle and mostly poorly visible). Body ~800 μm long with abdomen ~430 μm long, with middle segments partially telescoped into each other. Head with 2 pairs of simple eyes and antennae each with 8 segments. Wings and hamulohalteres absent. Body with hair-like and peg-like setae; pores absent. Glandular pouches absent. Genital capsule only slightly longer than wide, tapered to a bluntly rounded apex. (Gullan & Williams, 2016)
• Biology: It appears that A. angophorae does not produce honeydew.
• General Remarks: Detailed description, photograph and illustration in Gullan & Williams, 2016.

Illustrations

Citations