Valid Names Results

Tanyscelis verrucula (Froggatt, 1894) (Eriococcidae: Tanyscelis)

Nomenclatural History

• Opisthoscelis verrucula Froggatt 1894b: 338-339. Type data: AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Bathurst, Napoleon Reef, on Eucalyptus sp., by W.S.C. Ross and W.W. Froggatt. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Orange: Agricultural Scientific Collections Unit, Orange Agricultural Institute, NSW, Australia; accepted valid name Notes: Syntypic gall material is in ASCT. Type and depository information provided by Gullan, (personal communication, June 10, 1996). Illustr.
• Opisthoscelis mammularis Froggatt 1894b: 344. Type data: AUSTRALIA: Victoria, Bendigo, on Eucalyptus sp., by W.W. Froggatt. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Orange: Agricultural Scientific Collections Unit, Orange Agricultural Institute, NSW, Australia; junior synonym Notes: Syntypic gall material in ASCT. Type depository information provided by Gullan (personal communication, June 10, 1996). Illustr.
• Tanyscelis verrucula (Froggatt, 1894); Hardy & Gullan 2010: 65-69. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Hodgso2020: pp.73 ( Adult (M) ) [some “Gondwanan” Eriococcidae]
• HardyGu2010: pp.8-10 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to adult females of species of Opisthoscelis and Tanyscelis]

Remarks

• Systematics: Adult females of T. verrucula are very similar to those of T. pisiformis. Both species have 4 anal spines and a small but distinct anal ring that often appears horeshoe-shaped and has about 6 setae. Both have marginal abdominal spines that are smaller than the anal spines, and they frequently have paired quinquelocular pores. T. pisiformis can be distinguished from those of T. verrucula by having 1) marginal spines restricted to the posterior abdominal segments vs. marginal spines also occurring along margin on head and thorax, 2) mach smaller eyes, 3) more elongate flagellate setae on dorsal surface of posterior abdominal segments, and 4) no weakly-sclerotixed pads or protuberances near the spiracles. (Hardy & Gullan, 2010) The males of T. verrucula are immediately recognisable by their elongate abdomen, which has presumably evolved to enable the males to mate with the females deep inside a gall. The structure of the penial sheath is also apparently unique, appearing to be barely differentiated from the previous abdominal segments and not heavily sclerotised (somewhat similar in Cystococcus spp.). (Hodgson, 2020)
• Structure: Female gall red to reddish-brown, tinged with green, broad at base; rounded pea-shaped excrescences, slightly corrugated on the sides. Upper portion of gall solid, walls thin on the sides, chamber small and irregular, basal orifice on underside of leaf, very irregular, warty pustule. Immature female dull yellow, covered with long curly white hairs. First-stage female flattish, elongate-oval, tapering towards the tip of abdomen, pale salmon pink. Second-stage female brownish-yellow. Adult female bright red, upper side flat, circular, slightly concave covered with white down. Adult female rounded, wrinkled, greyish-brown, tapering towards the anal tip. Hind legs pale yellow. (Froggatt, 1894b). Female gall nipple-like, broadly rugose, shape somewhat irregular with orifice on opposite side of leaf. Gall orifice slit-like to oblong on abaxial surface. (Hardy & Gullan, 2010) Male galls produced upon the leaf in wart-like excrescences, tip is truncate, tinted with pale pink at tips and covered with a whitish bloom. Male galls green, irregular, and form in clusters of 3 to 4 Adult male pale red with white opaline wings, enveloped in sac before emergence (Froggatt, 1894b). Male gall on stem and leaf, cylindrical to conical, surface with shrivelled appearance, opening round to oblong with opposite side of leaf swollen. (Hardy & Gullan, 2010)
• Biology: After oviposition, the body of the females shrink to about one-fifth of their size prior to oviposition. It is estimated that a single female could lay more than 1000 eggs. (Hardy & Gullan, 2010)
• General Remarks: Detailed description of male and female galls, first instars and adults by Froggatt (1894b). Hodgson (2002) used this species in a phylogenetic analysis of non-margarodid Coccoidea. Recent description, photograph of galls and illustration in Hardy & Gullan (2010).

Illustrations

Citations