Valid Names Results

Acanthococcus azaleae (Comstock, 1881) (Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Eriococcus azaleae Comstock 1881: 338. Type data: UNITED STATES: District of Columbia, in "Agr. Greenhouse," on Azalea sp., 06/01/1881, by D.C. Pergande. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (MillerMi1992,14-18). Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name
• Eriococcus borealis Cockerell 1899o: 369-370. Type data: CANADA: Yukon, Dawson City, on Salix sp., by J. Morley. Syntypes, female, Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; junior synonym (discovered by MillerMi1992, 14-18).
• Nidularia azaleae (Comstock, 1881); Lindinger 1933a: 108, 117. change of combination
• Nidularia borealis (Cockerell, 1899); Lindinger 1933a: 108. change of combination
• Eriococcus bezzii; Lindinger 1943b: 223. incorrect synonymy (discovered by TranfaEs1985, 121).
• Acanthococcus azaleae (Comstock, 1881); Borchsenius 1949b: 350-351. change of combination Illustr.

Common Names

• azalea bark scale Blicke1965 Westco1973
• eriococcus scale Frankl1952
• spirea scale Westco1973

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 10 | Genera: 14

Foes:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• KozarKaKo2013: pp.75-77 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Acanthococcus]
• Koszta1996: pp.228 ( Adult (F) ) [Acanthococcus species in Northeastern North America] Key as: Acanthococcus azaleae
• Gill1993: pp.156 ( Adult (F) ) [Acanthococcus species in California] Key as: Acanthococcus azaleae
• MillerMi1993: pp.8 ( Adult (F) ) [Acanthococcus species in the eastern United States] Key as: Acanthococcus azaleae
• MillerMi1992: pp.3 ( Adult (F) ) [Acanthococcus species in the western United States] Key as: Acanthococcus azaleae
• McDani1964: pp.103 ( Adult (F) ) [Eriococcus species of Texas] Key as: Eriococcus borealis
• Ferris1955a: pp.95 ( Adult (F) ) [North American species of Eriococcus] Key as: Eriococcus borealis

Remarks

• Systematics: Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae conical, apices acute or slightly rounded, present over dorsum, all approximately of same size; microtubular ducts elongate, with bifurcate orifice; anal lobes with teeth on medial margin (Miller & Miller, 1992). Eriococcus azaleae is morphologically variable and therefore had been considered as 2 species (E. azaleae and E. borealis). The E. azaleae type was collected from Rhododendron spp. from central Texas and east as well as from southern Oregon north (excluding Canada and Alaska). Specimens of the E. borealis type were not collected on Rhododendron spp. and were from Utah west to California. Specimens collected from the overlapping areas were intermediate in form, and the 2 species were therefore considered to be 2 forms of 1 species (E. azaleae) (Miller & Miller, 1992). Gill (1993) treats E. borealis as a separate species. Lindinger (1943b) incorrectly considered this species to be a senior synonym of E. bezzi(Leonardi). For information on the differences between these 2 species see the remarks section of Eriococcus uvaeursi.
• Structure: Adult female oval, posterior apex pointed, body dark red or purple. Ovisac is pure white and tapered (Gill, 1993).
• Biology: Data indicates the species has one generation per year in colder places, but two generations per year have been observed in warmer areas such as Alabama. This species overwinters as eggs or first instar nymphs. Females lay 50-250 reddish purple eggs in spring (Kosztarab, 1996). On cranberries in Massachusetts the females were found in crotches of the stems. In early June to early July 100 to 150 pink eggs were found associated with the females in white fluffy sacs. Crawlers were present in late June and early July and were light yellow unlike the red females (Franklin 1952).
• Economic Importance: This species is a widespread economic pest, particularly on azaleas (Miller & Miller, 1992). Mentioned as a troublesome pest of azaleas in greenhouses (Franklin 1952).
• General Remarks: E. azaleae is known in most of the United States and probably occurs in all areas of North America (Miller & Miller, 1992). Due to the large amount of economic literature on this species we have not attempted to include all citations. Miller & Miller (1992) and Gill (1993) provide detailed descriptions and illustrations.

Illustrations

Citations