Valid Names Results
Pulvinaria urbicola Cockerell, 1893 (Coccidae: Pulvinaria)Nomenclatural History
- Pulvinaria urbicola Cockerell 1893j: 255. nomen nudum
- Pulvinaria urbicola Cockerell 1893m: 160. Type data: JAMAICA: Kingston, on Capsicum sp.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name
- Pulvinaria grabhami Cockerell 1903e: 261. Type data: MADEIRA: Funchal, Public Garden, on Jossinia tinifolia.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; junior synonym (discovered by Willia2007, 91-96).
- Pulvinaria antigoni Green 1907: 204. Type data: SEYCHELLES: on Antigonum sp.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by Green1923b, 88).
- Lecanium nicotianae Newstead 1908: 6. Type data: MADAGASCAR: Fenerivo, on Nicotiana tabacum.. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia2007,91). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by Hodgso1968a, 163). Notes: A second description of Lecanium nicotianae as n.sp. was given by Newstead, (1909: 352).
- Coccus nicotianae (Newstead, 1908); Sanders 1909b: 45. change of combination
- Pulvinaria africana Newstead 1917a: 23. Type data: GHANA: Accra, on guava [=Psidium guajava].. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia2007,91). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by Hodgso1968, 163).
- Pulvinaria subterranea Newstead 1917a: 22. Type data: UGANDA: Entebbe, on roots of Chrysanthemum.. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia2007,91). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; Pretoria: South African National Collection of Insects, South Africa; junior synonym (discovered by Hodgso1968, 163).
- Pulvinaria floccifera; Brain 1920a: 19. misidentification (discovered by Hodgso1968, 163).
- Pulvinaria peninsularis Ferris 1921: 88. Type data: MEXICO: Baja California, San Barton, on undetermined shrub.. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia2007,92). Type depository: Davis: The Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, California, USA; junior synonym (discovered by Willia2007, 92).
- Coccus nicotianae; Mamet 1943a: 152. subsequent use
- Pulvinaria grabhami Cockerell, 1903; Ben-Dov 1993: 263. revived combination (previously published)
Common Names
- urbicola soft scale HamonWi1984
- Escama blanda algodonosa urbícola KondoWaGa2022a
- shima-tougarashi- wata-kaigaramushi KondoWaGa2022a
Ecological Associates
Hosts:
Families: 46 | Genera: 95
- Acanthaceae
- Eranthemum | LagowsGoHo2022
- Hemigraphis | Nakaha1983
- Pseuderanthemum | Beards1966
- Ruellia | Nakaha1981a
- Ruellia simplex | Malump2014a
- Sanchezia speciosa | AbdelR2012
- Tetramerium nervosum | LincanHoCa2010
- Amaranthaceae
- Achyranthes | VanHarCoWi1990
- Achyranthes aspera | LagowsGoHo2022
- Alternanthera | QinGu1992
- Alternanthera albotomentosa | CaballKoRa2023
- Beta vulgaris | Balach1939 | (= Beta maritima)
- Celosia floribunda | Ferris1921 Steinw1946
- Chenopodium | VanHarCoWi1990
- Dysphania ambrosioides | HernanGoCa2026
- Annonaceae
- Annona muricata | LincanHoCa2010
- Apiaceae
- Daucus carota | Nakaha1983
- Foeniculum | Balach1939 HodgsoHi1990
- Petroselinum crispum | WilliaBu1987 WilliaWa1990
- Peucedanum japonicum | TanakaAmUe2006
- Smyrnium | HodgsoHi1990
- Apocynaceae
- Funastrum pannosum | Ferris1921 Steinw1946 | (= Philibertia tomentella)
- Funastrum tomentellum | Ferris1921 Steinw1946
- Nerium oleander | LagowsGoHo2022
- Plumeria | Beards1966
- Plumeria rubra | MilleHeCa2016 | (= Plumeria acuminata)
- Araceae
- Alocasia macrorrhizos | WilliaWa1990
- Monstera deliciosa | WilliaWa1990
- Araliaceae
- Cussonia | NeumanODGu2014
- Arecaceae
- Caryota rumphiana | Ballou1926
- Asparagaceae
- Cordyline cannifolia | Ballou1926
- Dracaena | TanakaKa2020
- Asteraceae
- Ageratum | MatileEt2006
- Artemisia gorgonum | VanHarCoWi1990
- Bidens pilosa | NakahaMi1981
- Chrysanthemum | Hodgso1968 Newste1917a Newste1917b
- Cynara scolymus | WilliaWi1988
- Dahlia pinnata | QinGu1992
- Eupatorium | Nakaha1981a
- Sonchus oleraceus | Nakaha1981a
- Bignoniaceae
- Amphilophium buccinatorium | VonEll2025
- Campsis x tagliabuana | VonEll2025
- Catalpa speciosa | HamonWi1984
- Jacaranda | Hodgso1968
- Tecoma stans | WilliaWa1990
- Boraginaceae
- Cordia subcordata | WilliaWa1990
- Heliotropium curassavicum | LagowsGoHo2022
- Bromeliaceae
- Ananas | WilliaWa1990
- Cactaceae
- Acanthocereus tetragonus | MilleHeCa2016
- Caryophyllaceae
- Dianthus caryophyllus | QinGu1992
- Convolvulaceae
- Ipomoea batatas | Nakaha1981a Nakaha1983
- Ipomoea horsfalliae | Nakaha1981a
- Crassulaceae
- Kalanchoe pinnata | LincanHoCa2010 Mamet1943a WilliaWi1988 | (= Bryophyllum pinnatum)
- Cucurbitaceae
- Luffa acutangula | Green1916a Hodgso1968
- Momordica balsamina | Nakaha1981a
- Dioscoreaceae
- Dioscorea | Nakaha1983
- Ericaceae
- Erica scoparia | Balach1939
- Euphorbiaceae
- Euphorbia heterophylla | WilliaWa1990
- Ricinus communis | Mamet1943a WilliaWa1990
- Fabaceae
- Melilotus | HodgsoHi1990
- Ferns
- Ferns | BenDov2012
- Gentianaceae
- Eustoma exaltatum | HamonWi1984
- Hernandiaceae
- Hernandia sonora | WilliaWa1990
- Lamiaceae
- Mentha | HodgsoHi1990
- Premna | Beards1966
- Volkameria inermis | WilliaWa1990 | (= Clerodendrum inerme)
- Lythraceae
- Heimia salicifolia | Ferris1921 Steinw1946 | (= Nesaea salicifolia)
- Malpighiaceae
- Malpighia emarginata | TanakaKa2020
- Malpighia glabra | QinGu1992 TanakaAmUe2006
- Malvaceae
- Melochia tomentosa | NakahaMi1981
- Musaceae
- Musa | CaballKoRa2023
- Myrtaceae
- Psidium guajava | Almeid1973b HamonWi1984 Nakaha1983 Newste1917a Newste1917b
- Nyctaginaceae
- Boerhavia diffusa | MilleHeCa2016
- Ceodes umbellifera | NeumanODGu2014 | (= Pisonia umbeliifera)
- Mirabilis jalapa | Ballou1926 HamonWi1984
- Pisonia grandis | NeumanODGu2014 SmithPaHa2004
- Picramniaceae
- Alvaradoa amorphoides | MestreHoHa2015
- Piperaceae
- Piper methysticum | WilliaWa1990
- Plantaginaceae
- Penstemon multiflorus | HamonWi1984
- Polygonaceae
- Antigonon | Green1907 Mamet1943a
- Coccoloba | HodgsoHi1990
- Coccoloba diversifolia | HamonWi1984
- Coccoloba uvifera | Nakaha1983 Panis2010
- Polygonella fimbriata | HamonWi1984
- Polygonella polygama | Ahmed2019
- Polypodiaceae
- Polypodiaceae | BenDov1987
- Primulaceae
- Lysimachia | HodgsoHi1990
- Pteridaceae
- Adiantum | QinGu1992
- Rhamnaceae
- Karwinskia humboldtiana | Ferris1921 Steinw1946
- Rutaceae
- Citrus | Steinw1946
- Sapindaceae
- Litchi chinensis | WilliaWa1990
- Solanaceae
- Capsicum | Cocker1893o Cocker1895a Cocker1895x Nakaha1981a Nakaha1983
- Capsicum annuum | Mamet1943a VanHarCoWi1990 WilliaWa1990 WilliaWi1988 | (= Capsicum grossum)
- Capsicum frutescens | Nakaha1981a QinGu1992 TanakaAmUe2006
- Cestrum nocturnum | Ballou1926
- Datura metel | WilliaWa1990
- Lycium carolinianum | HamonWi1984
- Nicotiana glauca | Almeid1973 Balach1939 Green1923b
- Nicotiana tabacum | Mamet1943a Mamet1950 Newste1908a Newste1909
- Physalis peruviana | QinGu1992 WilliaWa1990
- Solandra | HodgsoHi1990
- Solanum | HodgsoHi1990 Steinw1946 Nakaha1983 | (= Lycopersicon)
- Solanum lycopersicum | Mamet1943a WilliaWa1990 WilliaWi1988 | (= Lycopersicon esculentum)
- Solanum melongena | Nakaha1983 WilliaWa1990
- Solanum nigrum | WilliaWa1990
- Solanum tuberosum | WatsonOuKa2021
- Solanum violaceum | Mamet1943a WilliaWi1988 | ( Solanum indicum)
- Withania somnifera | AbdRabEv2021
- Verbenaceae
- Citharexylum spinosum | BenDov1987 Nakaha1981a
- Lantana | Balach1939 Green1923b Mamet1978
- Lantana camara | Mamet1943a QinGu1992 VanHarCoWi1990 WilliaWa1990 WilliaWi1988
- Lippia | HodgsoHi1990
- Stachytarpheta mutabilis | Ahmed2019
- Zingiberaceae
- Alpinia purpurata | Nakaha1981a
- Zygophyllaceae
- Porlieria angustifolia | Steinw1946
Foes:
Families: 3 | Genera: 3
- Aphelinidae
- Coccophagus lycimnia | HernanGoCa2026
- Coccinellidae
- Cryptolaemus montrouzieri | NeumanODGu2014
- Encyrtidae
- Encyrtus aurantii | BlumbeGo1992 | (= Encyrtus lecaniorum)
- Encyrtus infelix | Blumbe1997 BlumbeGo1992
Associates:
Families: 1 | Genera: 3
- Formicidae
- Anoplolepis gracilipes | NeumanODGu2014
- Dorymyrmex smithi | HernanGoCa2026
- Tetramorium bicarinatum | PeckBaPe2014
- Tetramorium simillimum | PeckBaPe2014
Geographic Distribution
Countries: 60
- Agalega Islands | Mamet1943a Mamet1978
- Angola | Almeid1973b
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbuda | BenDov1993
- Ascension Island | WilliaMe2007
- Australia
- Bermuda | HodgsoHi1990 HodgsoHi1991
- Burundi | MatileWi2015
- Cape Verde | VanHarCoWi1990
- Christmas Island | NeumanODGu2014
- Colombia | Kondo2001
- Cook Islands | WilliaWa1990
- Cuba | Ballou1926 MestreHoHa2015
- Dominican Republic | BenDov1993
- Egypt | AbdelR2012
- Ethiopia | DeLott1959
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Caroline Islands | BenDov1993
- Fiji | WilliaWa1990
- French Guiana | KondoGaWa2022a
- Gabon | MatileWi2015
- Galapagos Islands | CaustoPeSi2006 LincanHoCa2010
- Ghana | Hodgso1968 Newste1917a
- Guadeloupe | MatileEt2006
- Guiana | GermaiDeLa2016
- Haiti | PerezG2008
- Hawaiian Islands
- Hawaii | HamonWi1984
- India
- Karnataka | Joshi2017
- Israel | BenDov1987
- Jamaica | Cocker1895a Cocker1895x
- Japan | TanakaAmUe2006
- Kenya | WatsonOuKa2021
- Kiribati | WilliaWa1990
- Madagascar | Hodgso1968 Mamet1943a Mamet1950 Newste1909
- Madeira Islands | Balach1939 Green1923b Mamet1943a
- Maldives | WatsonOoGi1995 | NeumanODGu2016
- Martinique | MatileEt2006
- Mauritius | Mamet1943a
- Mexico
- Baja California Sur | Ferris1921
- New Caledonia | WilliaWa1990
- Northern Mariana Islands | BenDov1993
- Papua New Guinea | WilliaWa1990
- Puerto Rico & Vieques Island
- Puerto Rico | Martor1976 NakahaMi1981
- Reunion | GermaiMiPa2014 MatileWi2015
- Ryukyu Islands (=Nansei Shoto) | TanakaKa2020
- Saint Croix | Beatty1944
- Saint Lucia | Malump2014a
- Saint Martin & St. Barthelemy
- Saint Barthelemy | MatileEt2006
- Saint Martin | MatileEt2006
- Seychelles | GaigheSaHe2011 Green1907 Mamet1943a
- Solomon Islands | WilliaWa1990
- South Africa | Hodgso1968
- Tanzania | Hodgso1968
- Togo | Panis2010
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad | BenDov1993
- Tuvalu | BenDov1993
- U.S. Virgin Islands | Beatty1944
- Uganda | Hodgso1968 Newste1917a
- United States
- Alabama | HamonWi1984
- California | Ferris1921
- Florida | HamonWi1984
- Louisiana | HamonWi1984
- Texas | HamonWi1984
- Vanuatu (=New Hebrides) | WilliaBu1987
- Western Samoa | BenDov1993
- Zanzibar | Green1916a Mamet1943a
- Zimbabwe | Hodgso1968
Keys
- DasPrDa2025: pp.578-579 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Pulvinaria found in India]
- MoghadWa2024: pp.77 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Pulvinaria in Iran]
- TanakaKa2022a: pp.447-448 ( Adult (F) ) [Pulvinaria species in Japan]
- TalukdDa2021: pp.440 ( Adult (F) ) [Pulvinaria in India]
- MestreKoRe2021: pp.3 ( Adult (F) ) [Pulvinaria in Cuba]
- TanakaKa2020: pp.420 ( Adult (F) ) [Pulvinaria from Ryukyu Islands]
- Joshi2017: pp.540 ( Adult (F) ) [Indian species of Pulvinaria]
- TanakaKo2015: pp.113 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to Colombian species of the genus Pulvinaria]
- TanakaAmUe2006: pp.180 ( Adult (F) ) [Pulvinaria species of Ryuku archipelago]
- WilliaWa1990: pp.148 ( Adult (F) ) [Tropical South Pacific]
- HamonWi1984: pp.87 ( Adult (F) ) [USA, Florida]
- Beards1966: pp.491 ( Adult (F) ) [Micronesia]
- Zimmer1948: pp.333 ( Adult (F) ) [Hawaii]
Remarks
- Systematics: It can be concluded that P. urbicola can be separated clearly from P. floccifera by lacking submarginal tubercles (7-9 in aa[P. flocciferaa] and by the 2 subapical seta located in the anal plate (3 in P. floccifera). (Abdel-Razak, et al., 2014) In slide mounts, P. urbicola resembles P.okitsuensis (Kuwana) and P. floccifera (Westwood). Qin and Gullan (1992) stated that the species lacks dermal areolations and submarginal tubercles completely in Australia, whereas Tanaka and Amano (2006) affirmed that both dermal areolations and dorsal tubercles are present but rare. Williams and Watson (1990) also stated that some P. urbicola possess submarginal tubercles. In India, all specimens had dermal areolations and dorsal tubercles were found in 2 out of 41 specimens. Dorsal dermal areolations was prominent but were present only in submarginal areas. (Joshi, 2017)
- Structure: See colour photograph in Hamon & Williams (1984) and Tanaka et al. (2006). Adult female elongate oval, but mature female convex dorsally. Body color varying with age and to some extent with host, but generally yellow to yellowish green with dark brownish markings on dorsum. No visible wax develops on the dorsum before oviposition. Ovipositing females become shrunken with age, becoming darker and body surface developing light wax deposits (Fig 1G, H). Ovisac white, straight or curved, convex dorsally, with four longitudinal ridges in median and lateral areas. Forming colonies on lower leaf surface, around veins and on leaf margin. Eggs gleaming yellowish orange. As nymph grows, a dark brown stippled wavy marking develops on each side, arising from the paler anal plates; these lines diverge anteriorly and then converge toward head, enclosing a lanceolate paler patch on spinal area of dorsum. These darker wavy lines increase in width and cover almost whole dorsum except in median area. Body color becoming lighter towards margin, with a darker pattern forming spurs towards outer periphery. (Joshi, 2017)
- Biology: Panis & Maro (1977) described a method for mass rearing. The encapsulation of eggs of Encyrtus infelix (Embleton) was determined by Blumberg & Goldenberg (1992).
- Economic Importance: Smith et al. (2004) reported on successful biological control of this soft scale on the Coringa South West Island (Queensland, Australia), where it became a destructive pest to Pisonia grandis forest. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae) has proved a very effective in suppressing populations of P. urbicola on oceanic islands. (Neumann, et al., 2014)
- General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Zimmerman (1948), Hamon & Williams (1984), Williams & Watson (1990) and by Tanaka et al. (2006).Good description and illustartion of adult female by Hodgson (1994a).
Illustrations
Citations
- AbdRabEv2021: distribution, host, 30
- AbdelR2012: description, distribution, illustration, 206-208
- AbdelRBaKa2014: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 185-188
- AhmedMi2018a: distribution,
- Almeid1973b: distribution, host, 5
- Balach1939: distribution, host, 257-258
- Ballou1926: catalog, distribution, host, 36
- Beards1966: distribution, host, taxonomy, 491,493
- Beatty1944: distribution, host, 114-172
- BenDov1987: distribution, host, 114
- BenDov1993: catalog, 263-264,274, 286-287
- BenDov2012: catalog, distribution, host, 27, 44
- BezerrSiSa2026: distribution, host, 5
- Blumbe1997: biological control, ecology, 225-236
- BlumbeGo1992: biological control, life history, 57-65
- Brain1920a: distribution, host, taxonomy, 19
- CaballKoRa2023: distribution, host, record, survey, 34, 35
- CaustoPeSi2006: distribution, 137
- Cocker1893j: taxonomy, 255
- Cocker1893m: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 160-161
- Cocker1894d: taxonomy, 311
- Cocker1895a: distribution, host, 102
- Cocker1895x: distribution, host, taxonomy, 258
- Cocker1896b: taxonomy, 330
- Cocker1903e: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 261-262
- DasPrDa2025: key, record, 578-579
- DeLott1959: distribution, taxonomy, 152
- DowellGiJe2016: distribution, 114
- Fernal1903b: catalog, 140
- Ferris1921: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 88-89
- FrancoRuMa2011: distribution, 2,6,22
- GaigheSaHe2011: biological control, distribution, ecology, host,
- GermaiDeLa2016: host, list of species, 2
- GermaiMiPa2014: distribution, host, 22
- GiliomMi2019: ant association, biological control,
- GillKo1997: distribution, economic importance, host, 161-163
- Green1907: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 199,204
- Green1916a: distribution, host, taxonomy, 375
- Green1923b: distribution, host, 88
- HamonWi1984: description, distribution, host, illustration, key, taxonomy, 105-107
- Hodgso1968: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 162-164
- HodgsoHi1990: distribution, host, 2,6,10,13-14,20
- HodgsoHi1991: distribution, host, 137
- HodgsoLa2011: distribution, host, 21
- Joshi2017: description, distribution, host, illustration, key, 533-542
- JoshiFi2019: distribution,
- JoshiKo2020: distribution,
- JoshiRaNa2019: distribution, 133
- KaxxorSoZa2025a: history, 128
- Kondo2001: distribution, host, taxonomy, 42
- KondoGaWa2022a: control, diagnosis, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 326-328
- KondoWa2022a: distribution, host, list, 12
- KozarWa1985: catalog, distribution, 76, 78
- LagowsGoHo2022: distribution, host, list, 9
- LincanHoCa2010: distribution, host, 4
- Lindin1912b: distribution, host, taxonomy, 145
- Malump2014a: distribution, host, 73
- Mamet1943a: distribution, host, 153
- Mamet1949: catalog, distribution, 27
- Mamet1950: distribution, host, 17
- Mamet1978: distribution, host, 106
- Martor1976: distribution, host, 41,73,146,164
- MatileEt2006: distribution, host, 167
- MatileWi2015: distribution, host, 71
- MestreHoHa2015: distribution, host, 9-10
- MestreKo2018: distribution, 5
- MestreKoRe2021: key, 3
- Meurge2011: distribution, 80
- MilleHeCa2016: distribution, economic importance, host, 134
- Miller1996: catalog, distribution, 71
- MoghadWa2024: diagnosis, distribution, host, illustration, 15, 84-86
- Nakaha1981a: distribution, host, 392
- Nakaha1983: distribution, host, 6
- NakahaMi1981: distribution, host, 30
- NeumanODGu2014: biological control, description, distribution, ecology, host, illustration, 27-30
- NeumanODGu2016: ant association, dispersal, distribution, host, 159-166
- Newste1908: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 6-7
- Newste1909: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 352
- Newste1917a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 22-24
- Panis2010: distribution, host, life history, 421-422
- PanisMa1976: distribution, host, 7-8
- PanisMa1977: biological control, distribution, host, life history, 599-606
- PeckBaPe2014: ant association, control, host,
- PerezG2008: distribution, 213
- QinGu1992: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 154-157
- Reyne1961: distribution, host, 125
- Reyne1964: distribution, host, 98-99
- Sander1909a: catalog, 45
- SmithPaHa2004: biological control, distribution, host, 61-68
- Steinw1946: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 10,23
- TalukdDa2021: key, 440
- TanakaAmUe2006: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 177-181
- TanakaKa2020: description, diagnosis, distribution, host, illustration, key, taxonomy, 415-419
- TanakaKa2022a: key, 448
- TanakaKo2015: distribution, taxonomy, 113
- VanHarCoWi1990: distribution, host, taxonomy, 135
- VieiraCaPi1983: distribution, host, 103-104
- VonEll2025: distribution, 22
- Watson2021: distribution, 522
- WatsonOoGi1995: distribution, host, 49
- WatsonOuKa2021: distribution, host, 78
- Willia1985a: catalog, distribution, host, 225
- Willia2001: distribution, 225-227
- Willia2007: distribution, host, taxonomy, 91-96
- Willia2017a: catalog, list of species, 207, 210
- WilliaBe2009: catalog, taxonomy, 34
- WilliaBu1987: distribution, host, 93
- WilliaMe2007: distribution, host, 132
- WilliaWa1990: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 157-159
- WilliaWi1988: distribution, host, 58
- Zimmer1948: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 340-342
