Valid Names Results

Ishigakicoccus shimadai Tanaka, 2016 (Rhizoecidae: Ishigakicoccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Ishigakicoccus shimadai Tanaka 2016: 117. Type data: Japan: Okinawa Pref., Ishigaki Island, Mt. Omoto, in a nest of Acropyga yaeyamensis, 2/16/2015, by T. Shimada. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Tsukuba: National Museum of Nature and Science, Japan; accepted valid name Notes: 3 Paratype females, same data as Holotype

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Tanaka2016: pp.119, 121 ( Adult (F) ) [Identification key to Japanese Rhizoecidae species]

Remarks

• Systematics: This species slightly resembles two other species of the monotypic genera of Rhizoecidae, Capitisetella migrans (Green, 1933) and Pseudorhizoecus proximus Green, 1933, in lacking ostioles and tritubular and/or bitubular pores, and having a pyriform to round body shape. However, the former is clearly distinguishable from those two species by having small multilocular pores on both surfaces of the body, 3–5 large locular pores on the medial area of the ventral abdomen, and two different-sized body setae. Based on some morphological similarity, the genus and species is tentatively placed in the subtribe Ripersiellina Kozár 2007 of the tribe Rhizoecini Williams, 1969. (Tanaka, 2016)
• Structure: Body elongate oval, slightly pyriform. Eye spot absent. Antennae 5 segmented. Legs well-developed. Two types of body setae present on both dorsal and ventral body surface. Small sized multilocular pores present, each with 5–6 loculi. Tritubular and bitubular pores absent. Oral collar tubular ducts absent. Ostioles absent. Anal ring irregular oval; anal pores and anal ring setae absent. Large 3–5 locular pore without central hub, present on medial area of ventral abdomen. A circulus present. (Tanaka, 2016)
• Biology: Mr. Taku Shimada, observed some A. yaeyamensis workers grabbing and carrying the root mealybug individuals by their mandibles when he collected the species. This behavioral observation, the collecting site of the species, i.e. inside a nest of A. yaeyamensis and the morphological features of the species, i.e. the lack of wax on the body surface indicates that the species is a potential trophobiont of A. yaeyamensis.
• General Remarks: Detailed description, illustration and photographs in Tanaka, 2016.

Illustrations

Citations