Valid Names Results

Xenococcus annandalei Silvestri, 1924 (Xenococcidae: Xenococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Xenococcus annandalei Silvestri 1924a: 312. Type data: INDIA: Barkuda Island, Chilka Lake, Madras District (now Orissa Province), on Ficus obtusa, with ants Acropyga acutiventris. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia1978DJ,66). Type depository: Portici: Dipartimento de Entomologia e Zoologia Agraria di Portici, Universita di Napoli Federico II, Italy; accepted valid name Illustr.
• Xenococcus anandalei Silvestri, 1924; Danzig & Konstantinova 1990: 41. misspelling of species epithet

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 12 | Genera: 13

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• SchneiLa2011: pp.68-70 ( Adult (F) ) [Genera and species of the tribe Xenococcini]
• KozarKo2007: pp.590 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Xenococcus]
• Willia2004a: pp.844 ( Adult (F) ) [Xenococcus species]
• Willia1998DJ: pp.23 ( Adult (F) ) [World]

Remarks

• Structure: Immature stages are white in color and the mature ones are cream colored and these mealy bugs are always seen in association with ants. Antenna well defined and the abdomen of the female tapers abruptly and is kept in erect position. A special articulation is found in between the enlarged first and second antennal segments and hence the antennae can be folded back along the body. Instead of the mealy wax which is present on most of the mealybugs, minute setae is found covering the abdomen. The legs are well developed and the insects move actively. (Deepthy, et al., 2017)
• Biology: Found underground, attended by, and in the nest of, the ant Acropyga acutiventris. The ant nests are seen in the soil from a depth of 5-20 cm. If there is any disturbance or food is exhausted, the ant will keep the mealybugs in between its mandibles and helps to migrate to more safer places or new healthy plants. (Deepthy, et al., 2017)
• Economic Importance: Severe infestation of mealybugs resulted in shedding of leaves and complete drying of plants and these symptoms were observed in black pepper vines (Piper nigrum L.), tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) , coffee, clove and cardamom. The cryptic habitat of the pest and its association with ants warrants thorough examination of planting materials along with proper management measures in order to prevent the spread of the pest to other pest free zones . Systematic monitoring of the crop fields is highly essential to diagnose the problem in the early stage itself. (Deepthy, et al., 2017)
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Williams (1978DJ), Williams & Watson (1988F), Tang (1992), Williams (2004a) and by Kozár & Konczné Benedicty (2007). Immature females described and illustrated by Williams (1978DJ). Williams (1988) described the female pupal instar, being the first record of such a female instar in any species of scale insects, and an unusual adult male. Despite these unusual instars Williams (1988) retained the species in the Pseudococcidae.

Illustrations

Citations