Valid Names Results

Rhizoecus franconiae Schmutterer, 1956 (Rhizoecidae: Rhizoecus)

Nomenclatural History

• Rhizoecus franconiae Schmutterer 1956a: 519. Type data: GERMANY: near Erlangen and near Berchtesgaden, on Hieracium pilosella, Achillea millefolium, Tanacetum vulgare and Corynephorus canescens. Holotype, female, Type depository: Wetlenberg: The Schmutterer Collection, Germany; accepted valid name Notes: The original description does not mention a holotype explicitly, as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature orders in Chapter 4, Article 16.4 (ICZN, 1999). The syntype slide marked as “Type” by the descriptor holds two specimens, and it is not possible to determine which one corresponds to the possible holotype. Therefore, Caballero etr al. (2026) designated as Lectotype of Rh. franconiae the specimen on the left side of the slide, as it best represents the original description, and it is preserved in good condition. The other specimen on the upper right side of the slide, as well as the remaining seven syntypes, become paralectotypes. Illustr.

Common Names

• Franconian root mealybug KosztaKo1988F
• franconian root mealybug KosztaKo1988F

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 2 | Genera: 4

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• CaballKaRa2026: pp.117 ( Adult (F) ) [Rhizoecidae species recorded in Germany]
• KozarKo2007: pp.132-137 ( Adult (F) ) [world]
• Tang1992: pp.54 ( Adult (F) ) [China]
• KosztaKo1988F: pp.141 ( Adult (F) ) [Central Europe]

Remarks

• Systematics: This species is quite distinguishable from other species recorded from Germany. The closest species are Rh. nemoralis and Rh. dianthi by the presence of multilocular disc pores, but Rh. franconiae presents tubular ducts on the dorsum and venter, presents a circulus, and has two spur-like setae in the internal distal margin of the tibia. In contrast, Rh. nemoralis lacks circulus, and the setae in the internal distal margin are flagellate. Those same characters apply to Rh. dianthi, plus the lack of tubular ducts. (Caballero, et al., 2026.)
• Structure: Slide-mounted adult female body elongated oval to broadly oblong, length 885.8 ± 31.8 (832–920) [856] μm, width 569 ± 47.2 (507–647) [542] μm. Anal lobes not developed, without sclerotization; two blunt setae on dorsum of each lobe, (Caballero, et al., 2026.)
• Biology: Living on roots of its host plant.
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Schmutterer (1956a) and by Kozár & Konczné Benedicty (2007). Detailed redescription, photographs and illustrations in Caballero, et al., 2026. Schmutterer (1956a) selected a holotype, but did not indicate from which of the two localities, nor from which of the four host plants.

Illustrations

Citations