Valid Names Results

Ripersia leptospermi is now Fimbriaticoccus leptospermi (Maskell, 1889) (Eriococcidae: Fimbriaticoccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Ripersia leptospermi Maskell 1889: 106-107. Type data: AUSTRALIA:. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name
• Fimbriaticoccus leptospermi (Maskell, 1889); Gullan & Williams 2021: 296. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5D4B34C4-38F6-4FB2-AEEF-ED60FE317D34

  Maskell (1889, 1893) considered F. leptospermi to belong to the Dactylopiidae, a family group that was poorly defined at that time. Williams (1985a) in his book on Australian mealybugs, transferred R. leptospermi to the Eriococcidae after examination of Maskell material deposited in the United States National Museum of Natural History (USNM). However, Maskell’s species remained in Ripersia Signoret, 1875b, which is a mealybug genus (Pseudococcidae) This action was confirmed following examination by D.R. Miller of Maskell specimens held in the USNM and by P.J. Gullan of ANIC specimens collected in 1960 by H.M. Brookes in South Australia. The adult female of F. leptospermi is highly distinctive due to the segmental marginal clusters of truncate spine-like setae. The only other eriococcid genus with which the adult female of F. leptospermi might be confused is Sangicoccus in which the adult females have marginal clusters of truncate, or sometimes bluntly pointed, spine-like setae, which secrete wax. Adult females of both genera also have macrotubular ducts confined to the ventral submargin of the abdomen and similar multilocular pores and microtubular ducts. However, Sangicoccus differs from F. leptospermi in the following features of the adult female (those of F. leptospermi in parentheses): antennae three segmented (six segmented); frontal lobes well developed (absent); legs poorly developed and short, with trochanter and femur usually fused (long, well developed and without fusion of trochanter and femur); coxa and femur of hind legs with irregularly shaped translucent pores on dorsal surface (on ventral and dorsal surfaces of hind coxa only); marginal clusters of spine-like setae on a sclerotised area (on unsclerotised or very weakly sclerotised area); dorsal setae of two kinds, larger ones with a striated surface and smaller ones with an unstriated surface (all of one kind, with surface unstriated, although medial setae largest); and ventral macrotubular ducts with a wide sclerotised area surrounding the orifice (without sclerotised area surrounding the orifice).

• Structure: Maskell (1889: p. 106) described the unmounted adult female as: “.. flattish, a little raised and carinated on the dorsum; outline sub-circular, or if in a depression of the leaf proportionately compressed; colour dark purple, covered with white meal; producing rich red colour when immersed in potash. From the edge of the body radiate all round a large number of very long, fine, white, cottony, curling filaments which are also slightly arched, forming a kind of bower, under which is a mass of more granular cotton, slightly tinged with yellow, in which the eggs are laid and hatched. The filaments are in tufts set close together, and their average length is about twice the diameter of the insect.” Maskell also stated that the marginal tufts of long, white, cottony filaments were produced from “large projecting tubular spinnerets with wide bases”, which clearly are the clusters of truncate spine-like setae found on each side of each body segment. (Gullan & Williams, 2021)
• General Remarks: Williams (1985) states that "Maskell (1889) described Ripersia leptospermi from South Australia as a mealybug on Leptospermum laevigatum, but it is here transferred to the Eriococcidae after examination of authentic material." Detailed description and illustration of adult female, first instar nymph, second-instar female and adult male, following transfer of the species to the genus Fimbriaticoccus, in Gullan & Williams, 2021.

Illustrations

Citations