Valid Names Results

Spilococcus gullanae Joshi, Churi & Amembal, 2026 (Pseudococcidae: Spilococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Spilococcus gullanae Joshi, Churi & Amembal 2026: 382. Type data: INDIA: Maharashtra, Mumbai, Edithcolea grandis N.E.Br., 2/26/2021, Paresh Churi leg.. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Bengaluru (Bangalore): National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: same data as holotype (NBAIR) Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: The live adult female of S. gullanae bears a superficial similarity to that of Phenacoccus solenopisis Tinsley in having paired dark submedian patches of bare cuticle on the dorsum; however, it differs in the number, locations and colour of the bare areas.
  Spilococcus gullanae resembles S. geraniae (Rau) in having: (i) a circulus; (ii) eight antennal segments; (iii) a similar distribution of oral rim tubular ducts on the dorsum and venter; and (iv) in having a dense cluster of ventral oral collar tubular ducts between the procoxa and the body margin. However, the species can be separated as follows: (i) dorsal oral rim tubular ducts present on abdominal segments VII‒VIII; (ii) ventral oral collar tubular ducts present on abdominal segments III‒VIII; (iii) multilocular disc-pores present on abdominal segments VI‒VIII, only on median areas (Joshi et al., 2026).
• Structure: In life: Body of live adult female elongate oval; ventral surface flat, but dorsal surface a little convex in the median region. Body contents brown; cuticle covered with white wax, with intersegmental lines evident; abdomen with four submedian bare areas: two linear areas on posterior abdominal segments and two shorter patches on anterior abdominal segments, also with two similar short submedian bare areas on anterior of thorax. With white wax filaments present around margins; terminal wax filaments on the last abdominal segment longest, curved and divergent; lengths of lateral wax filaments decrease towards thorax and head. Ovisac, eggs and males not seen.
  Slide-mounted specimens: Body of adult female broadly oval, membranous; largest specimen 2.95–3.27 mm long and 1.78–1.95 mm wide. Eyes 50–57 μm in diameter, not associated with discoidal pores. Antennae 7 segmented; measurements (in μm): total length about 600–650; apical segment (VII) 110–120 long and 25–30 wide, with 1 fleshy seta with rounded apex, 2 flat setae with pointed apices, 1 sharp pointed seta at apex, and 6 or 7 flagellate setae; segment VII with 1 fleshy seta with rounded apex, and 3 or 4 flagellate setae. Labium 3‒segmented, 75–85 μm wide at base and 85–90 μm long. Mesothoracic spiracles 55–68 μm long including apodeme, and 60–67 wide across peritreme; metathoracic spiracles 80–110 μm long including apodeme, and 80–86 μm wide across peritreme. Anal lobes poorly developed, ventral surface of each lobe bearing a stout apical seta about 145–165 μm long. Legs well developed, slender (Joshi et al., 2026).
• Biology: The initial infestation began on the terminal flower stalk of the potted host plant and later spread downwards, however no infestation was observed on the roots. No parasitoids, predators or attendant ants were reported to be associated with this species. When uprooted, the potted host plant showed no presence of mealybugs on the roots (Joshi et al., 2026).
• General Remarks: Description, illustration, and color photographs by Joshi et al. (2026).

Illustrations

Citations