Valid Names Results

Melissoaspis incola Schneider, Giliomee, Dooley & Normark, 2013 (Diaspididae: Melissoaspis)

Nomenclatural History

• Melissoaspis incola Schneider, Giliomee, Dooley & Normark 2013: 813-815. Type data: MADAGASCAR: Toliara 6 km 146. SSE Belo sur Mer, 20.4618.1194S, 44.0248.12E, elevation 15m, found in nest galleries of M. insularis from Euphorbia sp., 7/10/2001, by B.L. Fisher. Holotype, female, Type depository: San Francisco: California Academy of Sciences, Department of Entomology, California, USA; accepted valid name

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• SchneiGiDo2013: pp.816-817 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to the species of ant-associated armoured scale insects (adapted from Ben-Dov, 2010)]

Remarks

• Systematics: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7866FBCDE4A9-47AC-AB6C-A5C3FD709BD1 Adult females of M. incola are most similar in appearance to M. formicaria, particularly in that both species lack the distinctive reticulated light and dark patterning that is found on the dorsal pygidium of M. fisheri and M. reticulata. The following suite of characteristics distinguishes M. incola from its congeners. The median lobes in adult females of this species possess a lateral notch and the second lobes are without notches. By contrast, none of the lobes are notched in M. fisheri and M. reticulata, and in M. formicaria this trait is reversed, i.e., the second lobes possess a notch rather than the median lobes. The adult female of M. incola is further distinguished from M. formicaria by the absence of ventral microducts on the pygidial submargin and the presence along the pygidial margin of protruding microduct orifices resembling simple plates or gland spines. (Schneider, et al., 2013)
• Structure: Scale cover unknown; all specimens of type series lack scales. Mounted on microscope slide, body circular to ovoid, 0.44–0.6mm long, widest at metathorax, 0.37–0.46mm wide. Median and second lobes present, simple and poorly developed. (Schneider, et al., 2013)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Schneider, et al., 2013.

Illustrations

Citations