Valid Names Results

Formicococcus tectonae Joshi, Bindu & Gullan, 2020 (Pseudococcidae: Formicococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Formicococcus tectonae Joshi, Bindu & Gullan 2020: 394. Type data: INDIA: Kerala, Vettigapadam, Thrissur, on Tectona grandis, 12/07/2018 / by J. Bindu. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Bengaluru (Bangalore): National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: 9 ♀♀, data same as holotype; four paratypes on the same slide as the holotype Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• JoshiGuSh2022: pp.229 ( Adult (F) ) [Indian Formicococcus species]
• ZhangWu2022: pp.165-166 ( Adult (F) ) [Palaearctic and Oriental Formicococcus species]
• TanakaSuKa2021a: pp.202-204 ( Adult (F) ) [Formicococcus species in the Oriental region]
• JoshiBiGu2020: pp.399 ( Adult (F) ) [Formicococcus in India]

Remarks

• Systematics: Formicococcus tectonae is similar to F. robustus (Ezzat & McConnell) in having more than 3 conical setae in most cerarii including the anal lobe pair; cerarii on the abdomen containing auxiliary setae; and similar distributions of ventral oral collar tubular ducts and types of dorsal and ventral setae. Formicococcus tectonae can be distinguished (characters of F. robustus given in parentheses) by having (i) multilocular pores on segments IV–VIII (V–VIII); (ii) cerarian setae conical with flagellate tips (conical but sometimes 1 or more setae with flagellate tips); and (iii) by the absence or rarity of translucent pores on the hind tibia (present). Formicococcus tectonae is also similar to F. polysperes Williams in having multilocular disc pores as far forward as abdominal segment IV, but differs (characters of F. tectonae given in parentheses) in having stout, stiff dorsal setae (thick, stiff setae with a flagellate tip) and in having oral collar tubular ducts on the thorax and head (oral collar ducts absent from thorax and head). (Joshi, et al., 2020) In view of the unusual structure of the trilocular pores in F. tectonae., those of some other species of Formicococcus were examined to see if this feature is shared with congeneric species. Trilocular pores with a similar structure were observed in F. lingnani, F. polysperes and F. formicarii. (Joshi, et al., 2020)
• Structure: Body oval or rotund, peach-pink; legs and antennae yellowish brown; bodies of nymphs and adult female covered by flocculent white mealy wax, without bare areas on dorsum; intersegmental areas without mealy wax; very short lateral wax filaments present on abdominal segments, the pair on the last abdominal segment longer and curved; wax filaments absent from thorax and head. Ovisac absent; eggs gleaming cream, laid singly, not covered with mealy wax powder. (Joshi, et al., 2020)
• Biology: All life stages occurring on above-ground parts of host, under the bark in borer tunnels In the field, ants of an unidentified species of Tapinoma Foerster were found attending the mealybugs. (Joshi, et al., 2020)
• General Remarks: Detailed description, illustrations and photographs in Joshi, et al., 2020.

Illustrations

Citations