Valid Names Results

Pseudaulacaspis pyrrosiae Hodgson & Lagowska, 2011 (Diaspididae: Pseudaulacaspis)

Nomenclatural History

• Chionaspis dubia; Lever 1945: 43. misidentification
• Phenacaspis dubia; Hinckley 1963: 54. misidentification
• Pseudaulacaspis pyrrosiae Hodgson & Lagowska 2011: 12-14. Type data: FIJI: Viti Levu, Suva, Thurston Gardens, on Pyrrosia adnescens, July 14, 2009, by C.J. Hodgson. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; accepted valid name Notes: Paratype females: remaining specimens on holotype slide plus 1/1adf (poor) + several exuviae; as previous but collected 24.vii.2009 (BMNH): 1/4adff + 3 exuviae. Other material: Fiji, Viti Levu, Savura Forest Reserve, on maidenhair fern, 15.vii.2009, C.J. Hodgson #96 (BMNH): 1/1pupa, 1st & 2nd exuviae; as previous, on Pteris sp., 24.vii.2009, C.J. Hodgson #51 (BMNH): 1/2adff + 2 exuviae; Taveuni, Bouma, on maidenhair fern, 22.vii.2009, C.J. Hodgson #92 (BMNH): 2/6adff + prepupa. (BMNH; USDA). Also: Fiji, Suva, Adiantum fern, no date, F.P. Jepson No 46 (BMNH): 1/7adff + 4 spread females (good – originally identified as Chionaspis dubia Maskell); and Viti Levu, Nausori, maidenhair fern, 9.ix.1955, B.A. O’Connor 1363 (BMNH, CIE 3691/14526): 3/4adff (fair to good). Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 2 | Genera: 3

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• HodgsoLa2011: pp.14-15 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to adult female Pseudaulacaspis sp. known from Fiji.]

Remarks

• Systematics: Initially, it was thought that this species was P. coluisuvae Williams & Watson, but it differs in a few significant characters, namely (character-states for P. coluisuvae in brackets): (i) 2-barred ducts absent on head (present); (ii) margins of median lobes clearly serrated (poorly serrated); (iii) smaller anterior gland spines extend only to abdominal segment II (to the mesothorax); and (iv) each anterior spiracle with a group of more than 10 Pseudalaucaspis pyrrosiae is similar to P. coluisuvae Williams & Watson, but it differs by (character-states for P. coluisuvae in brackets): (i) 2-barred ducts absent on head (present); (ii) margins of median lobes clearly serrated (poorly serrated); (iii) smaller anterior gland spines extend only to abdominal segment II (to the mesothorax); and (iv) each anterior spiracle with a group of more than 10 loculate pores (6–9). P. pyrrosiae is the same species as that listed by Lever (1945a) as P. dubia (Maskell), which was collected on the fern Adiantum sp. and later listed as Phenacaspis dubia by Hinckley (1965). However, P. dubia is currently only known from New Zealand and differs from P. pyrrosiae in having (i) a group of gland spines near the anterior spiracles, and (ii) a group of trilocular pores by the posterior spiracles. Williams & Watson (1988a, p.17) also commented that the species were different.
• Structure: Scale test rather translucent when fresh, but becoming whitish to silvery when dry, with exuviae at one end. Slide mounted specimens small, body elongate; pygidium rounded to slightly V-shaped; anterior margin of head mainly rounded; lateral lobes of free pygidial segments moderately produced; body membranous apart from pygidium Mounted adult female pygidium with mediaum lobes well developed, zygotic and with a pari of setae medially.
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Hodgson & Lagowska, 2011.

Illustrations

Citations