Valid Names Results

Pseudococcus markharveyi Gullan, 2013 (Pseudococcidae: Pseudococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Pseudococcus markharveyi Gullan 2013: 17. Type data: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Stirling Range National Park, Bluff Knoll, (34°22'51"S, 118°18'02"E, 27 ) , on Banksia montana, 11/2007, by M.Moir,. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Canberra: Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Entomology, Australia; Perth: Spider and Insect Collection, Western Australian Museum, Western Australia, Australia; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: 2 adult females (2 slides), same data as holotype (1 in ANIC, 1 in WAM E83773) Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D8E4B61E-5C19-41E5-BC57-A6FEF2E0B5EA This species is unusual in lacking a circulus and multilocular pores, having typical oral-collar tubular ducts restricted to just a few near the vulva, having translucent pores restricted to the femur and tibia (none on the coxa) and possessing unusual enlarged tubular ducts dorsally and on the ventral margins. One adult female from Pyungorup Peak has more poorly developed ostioles with fewer setae and pores, and slightly smaller spiracles and shorter legs than the other type specimens. (Gullan, et al., 2013)
• Structure: The slide-mounted adult female is characterized by having drum-like dorsal tubular ducts that often have 1 or 2 minute discoidal pores associated with the duct rim, slightly smaller and drum-like tubular ducts on ventral margin, 17 pairs of cerarii, each with 2 conical setae except fi rst 2 pairs on head often with 3 conical setae, translucent pores confined to the femur and tibia, small ventral oral-collar tubular ducts confi ned to near the vulva, and by absence of a circulus and multilocular pores.(Gullan, et al., 2013)
• Biology: Mealybugs were found among the fine brown ‘hairs’ of B. montana on the main stem, undersides of leaves and developing fl owers. Often they were crawling all over the leaves and developing fl owers, but close to the main stem where the plant was the hairiest. Body color pinkish with a covering of white wax. Taking the precautionary principle that i>B. montana is the only host, P. markharveyi should be considered critically endangered. (Gullan, et al., 2013) P. markharveyi overwinters as eggs, with first instar nymphs emerging in September–October (spring), and adult females evident by December (summer). A second generation possibly occurs in late summer to autumn, but this requires confirmation. Males are unknown. (Moir, 2020)
• General Remarks: Detailed description and illustration in Gullan, et al., 2013. It likely suffered coextinction (loss of a dependent species with loss or reduction in host species populations), a mere 13 years after its discovery. From December 26, 2019, multiple large fires burnt over 40 000 ha of the Stirling Range National Park, including parts of the eastern massif that had escaped the fires in 2018. All six B. montana plants hosting P. markharveyi on Pyrungorup were burnt All individual plants that were known to host P. markharveyi have been extinguished, and the mealybug is now likely to be extinct. (Moir, 2020)

Illustrations

Citations