Valid Names Results

Matsucoccus gallicolus Morrison, 1939 (Matsucoccidae: Matsucoccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Matsucoccus matsumurae; Herbert 1921: 15. misidentification (discovered by Morris1939, 9-13).
• Matsucoccus gallicolus Morrison 1939: 9. Type data: USA: Pennsylvania, Stroudsburg, farm of Mrs. E. Bethel, on Pinus rigida, April, 1936, collected E.C. Pyle.. Holotype, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name

Common Names

• pine twig gall scale Koszta1996

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Foes:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• AhmedRaMo2020: pp.8 ( Adult (F) ) [Eastern U.S.]
• Koszta1996: pp.44 ( Adult (F) ) [Northeastern North America]
• RayWi1984: pp.768-769 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
• Boraty1952a: pp.321-324 ( Adult (F) ) [World]

Remarks

• Systematics: Adult female cicatrices numbering less than 310, present on segment I to segment VI; cicatrices absent from near body margin; with fewer than 30 multilocular pores; body setae of two distinct sizes; fleshy setae present on distal four antennal segments. (Ahmed, et al., 2020). Adult females of M. gallicolus can be separated from adult females of M. krystalae (characters in parentheses are of M. krystalae) as follows: With 170–378 cicatrices (437–900); cicatrices absent from marginal areas (marginal cicatrices present on one or more of segments IV–VI); with 20–32 multilocular pores (36–72); vulva and multilocular pores usually at or near posterior apex of abdomen (many specimens with vulva and multilocular pores located under dorsum of segment IV or V). (Ahmed, et al., 2020). Third-instar males of M. gallicolus can be separated from M. krystalae (characters in parentheses are of M. gallicolus) as follows: 10 or more bilocular tubular ducts on dorsum of abdominal segment III (fewer than 8). Third-instar males of M. gallicolus can be separated from M. alabamae (characters in parentheses are of M. gallicolus) as follows: setae anterior of hind coxa and in medial area of abdomen about same size as other body setae (setae in these areas conspicuously longer than other body setae). (Ahmed, et al., 2020).
• Structure: Adult female body elongate, parallel sided, 2.2–4.5 mm long, 1.0–2.7 mm wide. Dorsum: Setae uncommon, inconspicuous, arranged in rows, of one size, 5–8 μm long. Bilocular tubular ducts scattered over surface, uncommon on head and within rows of cicatrices; tubes usually slightly divergent. Cicatrices on segment I–VI; cicatrices present in medial and mediolateral areas, absent near body margin; some anterior segments with separate rows on anterior and posterior sections, anterior rows usually with fewer cicatrices; with 170–378 cicatrices; largest 6–12 μm in diameter. (Ahmed, et al., 2020) Third-instar Male:Two sizes of setae on venter, setae anterior of metacoxae about 20 μm long, marginal setae about 5 μm long; with less than eight bilocular tubular ducts on dorsum of abdominal segment III; abdominal spiracles usually decreasing in size posteriorly; fleshy setae present on distal four antennal segments. (Ahmed, et al., 2020)
• Biology: Develops one annual generation; egg overwinter (Kosztarab, 1996). Occurring during the growing stage in small pustule galls on the twigs of the host pines; adult females usually emerging and migrating to oviposit (Morrison, 1939).
• Economic Importance: Parr (1939) did a careful analysis of the effect of the feeding of M. gallicolus on host tissue in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. About two weeks after a crawler begins feeding, a slight yellowing of the twig surface develops around the insect body where it is in contact with the host. Normal epidermal and collenchyma cells outside of the feeding area have heavy walls but those in the area of feeding become thin walled, empty and stop growing. This causes the formation of a depression under the insect and this combined with abnormal growth of the epidermal and collenchyma cells surrounding the body of the crawler causes gall formation. By the end of June, the cells under the insect have lignified and this degradation continues until late August when twig death may occur. On pitch pine an infestation of 1.2 insects per square millimeter will cause twig death by the middle or end of July but an infestation of 0.5 insects per square millimeter will cause death of the twig by late August or September. Parr was able to demonstrate that the saliva from the feeding insect was the source of gall induction by the plant. According to Aughanbaugh (1949) a quarter acre plot was set up in a pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) plantation in Pond Bank, Pennsylvania in 1931. At the time the trees seemed healthy containing about 40 cubic feet of wood per acre. He suggested that the annual increment accumulated in 1942 of trees at the early age of 23 years demonstrated the serious damage sustained by the trees. Only 652 trees were alive in 1949 (48%) and it seemed doubtful that they would ever attain timber size. (Ahmed, et al., 2020)
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Morrison (1939) and by Kosztarab (1996).

Illustrations

Citations