Valid Names Results

Mimosicerya hempeli (Cockerell, 1899) (Monophlebidae: Mimosicerya)

Nomenclatural History

• Icerya (Crypticerya) hempeli Cockerell 1899c: 43. Type data: BRAZIL: Sao Paulo State, Campinas, on Mimosa; collected May 12, 1898, A. Hempel.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Four boxes in the USNM contain Cockerell's type material, from which specimens probably later were slide-mounted for Morrison's (1928) monograph. Morrison provided detailed illustrated descriptions of the adult and preadult females and the first-instar nymph that would have required slidemounted specimens.
• Crypticerya hempeli (Cockerell, 1899); Hempel 1900a: 376. change of combination
• Palaeococcus hempeli (Cockerell, 1899); Cockerell 1902q: 233. change of combination
• Clypeococcus hempeli (Cockerell, 1899); Newstead 1920: 175. change of combination
• Mimosicerya hempeli (Cockerell, 1899); Morrison 1928: 105. change of combination

Common Names

• Mimosa giant monophlebid KondoWa2022b
• Cochonilha gigante das fabáceas KondoWa2022b
• cochonilha jabuticaba KondoWa2022b
• monoflébido gigante de las fabáceas KondoWa2022b

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 8

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Foldi2009: pp.28 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Mimosicerya]

Remarks

• Systematics: This species was described by Cockerell (1899) based on what he believed to be the adult female. However, he described 9-segmented antennae and small stout legs, which are characteristic of the third-instar (preadult) female. Later, Newstead (1920) also described and illustrated the preadult female, believing it to be the adult and described and illustrated the first-instar nymph. Later still, Morrison (1928) recognised that the preadult exuviae concealed the pharate adult female and described the adult and preadult females and the first-instar nymph. Males are not known. (Foldi & Gullan, 2014)
• Structure: Adult female spherical and hollow at gestation, the marsupium filling practically the whole of the interior. Integument densely chitinised, faintly ribbed and polished; very dark plum-coloured, with a delicate "bloom-like" secretion, the segmentation of the dorsum indicated by faint blackish interrupted lines. Venter membranous, resting on a thin layer of hard resin-like secretion, segmentation distinct. Mentum biarticulate, the "filaments" enclosed in a membranous sheath, the latter lying obliquely to one side of the median line in mounted preparation (Newstead, 1920). Third-instar (preadult) female living exposed on bark; body subglobose, dark slate-gray with a thin but dense coating of cream-coloured mealy secretion; subdorsal areas marked by a longitudinal series of small round spots free from secretion; legs blackish brown to dark brown (Cockerell, 1899). Young preadults reddish-brown but becoming darker with age, with derm strongly sclerotised in old specimens. (Foldi & Gullan, 2014)
• Biology: Collected from spiny branches of an undetermined, probably Mimosa, tree or shrub (Newstead, 1920).
• Economic Importance: In high infestations, the plant may become completely covered by this species, which may lead to general withering and dieback of branches. Excess sap sucked by the insects is eliminated as honeydew on which sooty molds grow. Infestations are mainly observed in stressed leguminous trees planted on the roadside in urban areas. In general, trees can continue to be infested for many years.
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Cockerell (1899c), Hempel (1900a), Newstead (1920), Vayssiere (1926) and by Morrison (1928). Description and illustration of nymph by Morrison (1928).

Illustrations

Citations