Valid Names Results

Asaphococcus agninus Cox, 1987 (Pseudococcidae: Asaphococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Asaphococcus agninus Cox 1987: 17. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: Taupo, on Pittosporum sp.. Holotype, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; accepted valid name Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Hodgso2020: pp.32-34 ( Adult (M) ) [higher groups of Pseudococcidae]
• Cox1987: pp.17 ( Adult (F) ) [New Zealand]

Remarks

• Systematics: The adult male of Asaphococcus agninus is superficially very like the apterous adult males of Rhizoecidae, no doubt due to convergence. Nonetheless, the males of A. agninus still have: (i) ocelli; (ii) a distinctly sclerotised postocular ridge; (iii) a strong ventral midcranial ridge; (iv) a small group of loculate pores in the area of the glandular pouches, and (v) a basally narrow penial sheath — all character states not found in Rhizoecidae but characteristic of Pseudococcidae. Unfortunately, the position of the anus could not be seen. In addition to the above character states, the apterous male Saccharicoccus sacchari has (after Afifi, 1968): (i) a distinct postoccipital ridge; (ii) a small cranial apophysis; (iii) a slender tentorial bridge; (iv) pronotal sclerites often present; (v) post-tergites well developed; (vi) transverse ridge of prosternum distinct; (vii) proepisternum + cervical sclerite quite long, clearly reaching base of postocular ridge; (viii) most other segments with some weakly sclerotised tergites and sternites; (ix) ostioles; (x) a reasonably distinct pair of glandular pouches, each with 2 long setae and a shorter seta; (xi) ventral slit of penial sheath with a pair of penial sheath processes, each with a set of fine setae; and (xii) penial sheath only about half width of abdominal segment VIII. Similarly, the apterous male of Dysmicoccus jenniferae (Williams, 1985) has most of these features and clearly keys out within the Pseudococcidae. Most of these features are unknown on apterous rhizoecine mealybugs. Miller and Polavarapu (1997) also described an apterous form of D. vaccinii but this form still retains the major box-like sclerites of the mesothorax and all the main head structures. Hardy et al. (2008) placed Asaphococcus in the Pseudococcinae. (Hodgson, 2012)
• Structure: Mounted adult male, apterous; very small, 559 ìm long, 228 µm wide; rather pointed at both ends. Antennae short, 8 segmented, bases close together on anterior margin of head. Head with 2 pairs of simple eyes plus a pair of ocelli; sclerotised ridges on head much reduced. Mesothorax membranous. Body with few hair-like setae, each 10–15 ìm long. Loculate pores, each 4–6 µm wide with 3–5 loculi, restricted to thorax. Small simple pores (ssp) present only on abdominal segment VIII; minute sclerotised pores absent. Legs short, apparently without campaniform pores on trochanter; each leg probably with 1 tibial spur; tarsal digitules (tdgt) capitate. Glandular pouch area without a pouch but with loculate pores associated with a group of setae. (Hodgson, 2012)
• General Remarks: Good description and illustration of the adult female given by Cox (1987). Illustration of the adult male in Hodgson, 2012.

Illustrations

Citations