Valid Names Results

Icerya viraktamathi Joshi, 2021 (Monophlebidae: Icerya)

Nomenclatural History

• Icerya viraktamathi Joshi 2021: 202. Type data: INDIA: Meghalaya, Bhoirymbong, MDR 30, on Magnolia champaca, 12/09/2019, by Omprakash Navik. Holotype, female and first instar, by original designation Type depository: Bengaluru (Bangalore): National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: 6 ♀♀, same data as holotype; all mounted singly on individual slides

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• JoshiNaVe2021: pp.209 ( Adult (F) ) [Icerya in India]

Remarks

• Systematics: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C158091B-3598-4A8C-839C-0735EE455A79 The adult female of I. viraktamathi is similar to that of I. zimmermanni in having simple multilocular pores with a stalked profile as well as simple multilocular pores each with a dumbbell-shaped bilocular centre and 4 outer loculi in a highly sclerotized rim on the margin, but it can be distinguished by possessing (characters of I. zimmermanni in parenthesis): an ovisac band 6–8 pores wide (only 3–5 pores wide); an ovisac band formed of five types of simple multilocilar pores (four types); simple multilocular pores with quadrilocular centres present in the ovisac band and submedial region (absent); vulvar and anal pores restricted only to genital and anal areas (also present on venter of thoracic segments, forming a submarginal band); body contents orange in life (brown); margin of the body with shorter anterior and longer posterior wax filaments (wax filaments same size all round margin); caudal filament as long as body (caudal filament absent). The adult female of Icerya viraktamathi is also similar to that of I. siamensis in possessing simple multilocular pores with trilocular centres that appear stalked in profile, and simple multilocular pores each with a dumbbell-shaped bilocular centre and 4 outer loculi in a highly sclerotized rim on margin. However,I. viraktamathi can be differentiated from I. siamensis in possessing (characters of I. siamensis given in parenthesis): a complete ovisac band (incomplete); ovisac band 6–8 pores wide (only 4 or 5 pores wide); and by lacking crown-shaped pores on ventral margin (present). (Joshi, et al., 2021)
• Structure: Body of adult female elliptical, broadest at anterior of abdomen, narrowing towards head (Fig. 1 D); in ethanol, body color bright orange with legs and antennae dark brown; wax around ovisac band remains intact in ethanol, even after several months of preservation. Mid-dorsal and marginal area elevated, forming two submedian longitudinal furrows beside mid-dorsal ridge. Body covered dorsally by white wax, with one long caudal filament as long as body, curving upwards, and each side with a marginal row of nine wax filaments, all wax filaments curving upwards, anterior filaments shorter than posterior; mealy wax abundant around dorsal submargin, forming a thick, elevated submarginal ridge on each side. Last segment of abdomen with two short wax filaments on mid dorsal ridge; also one short stub-like filament on preceding abdominal segment, and one on head. Ovisac absent (the firstinstar nymphs were observed emerging from and settling around the female). Crawler body orange, coated with white wax, with a long glassy anal rod. (Joshi, et al., 2021)
• Biology: Found on lower leaf surface of leaves, around veins. Ants were found attending the scale insects. (Joshi, et al., 2021)
• General Remarks: Detailed description in Joshi, et al., 2021

Illustrations

Citations