Valid Names Results

Varicaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (Diaspididae)

Varicaspis MacGillivray 1921: 390. Type species: Aspidiotus fiorineides Newstead by monotypy and original designation . accepted valid name

Systematics: McKenzie (1947b) established Africonidia for the species Africonidia halli. However, Balachowsky (1954c; 1958b) has shown that A. halli was a junior synonym of Gymnaspis africana Newstead, 1913, and transferred the latter to Africonidia. Consequently, the genus Hallaspidiotus Mamet, 1951 (type-species: Gymnaspis africana Newstead, became a junior objective synonym of Africonidia. Borchsenius (1966) did not accept the validity of Africonidia and resurrected the genus Varicaspis MacGillivray, 1921 (type-species: Aspidiotus fiorineides Newstead, 1920). Borchsenius' interpretation will doubtlessly be acceptable as soon as it can be shown that A. fiorineides - which at present is known only from inadequate type material (Balachowsky, 1958b) and a poor description - is in fact congeneric with Africonidia africana. Until these two genera have been revised, Varicaspis is restricted to its type species, while five species are placed in Africonidia, namely africana, carreti, macdanieli, mkuzensis, subsimplex.
General Remarks: Definition and characters by MacGillivray (1921).