Valid Names Results

Platylecanium watsoniae Hodgson, 2025 (Coccidae: Platylecanium)

Nomenclatural History

• Platylecanium watsoniae Hodgson 2025a: 194. Type data: PHILIPPINES: on Orchid, 9/13/1979, by J. Dooley. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: Platylecanium watsoniae is similar to P. sarawakense, in having the inner margin of each anal plate with a broad area of thickening on underside of each plate and anal plates that are longer than theircombined widths and each plate with a rather pointed apex, but P. watsoniae differs in having: (i) 5 pairs of clear areas dorsally on the abdomen, plus an additional clear area at inner end of anterior unsclerotised ray, and (ii) much smaller anal plates, each 150‒153 μm long and about 118 μm combined width (compared with 176‒244 μm long and 134‒164 μm combined width on P. sarawakense). In addition, these two species have been recorded from very different hosts: P. watsoniae on Orchidaceae and P. sarawakense on Piperaceae. The presence of the additional clear area near the inner end of each unsclerotised ray in P. watsoniae is unique within Platylecanium but is also found in several species of Discochiton and Paralecanium. (Hodgson, 2025)
• Structure: Slide-mounted adult female body oval and symmetrical, length 3.8 mm, width 2.3 mm; anal cleft about 1/7th of body length. Although there is only one specimen of this species, P. watsoniae is distinctive, and is characterized by the following character-states: (i) margin crenulated; (ii) dorsal setae shorter than marginal setae but with broader basal sockets; (iii) preopercular pores associated with clear areas CA2-CA4 only; (iv) preopercular pores easily distinguishable from other dorsal pores; (v) with 5 pairs of clear areas on abdomen; (vi) with an additional clear area at inner end of anterior unsclerotized ray; (vii) anal plates longer than broad; (viii) anal plates without a deep cleft underneath each inner margin; (ix) each inner margin of anal plates with a broad area of thickening; (xii) antennae very short, and (x) legs, when visible, reduced to just claws without digitules. (Hodgson, 2025)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Hodgson, 2025.

Illustrations

Citations