Valid Names Results

Kermicus huizhouensis Wu & Huang, 2020 (Pseudococcidae: Kermicus)

Nomenclatural History

• Kermicus huizhouensis Wu & Huang 2020: 442. Type data: CHINA: Guangdong, Huizhou, Huiyang, Qianfeng, inside stem of Bambusa rigida Keng & Keng, 5/21/2020 / by. Chuanguan Liang and Shaobin Huang. Holotype, female and first instar, by original designation Type depository: Beijing: Forestry University, Beijing, China; accepted valid name Notes: Holotype: adult female, the specimen on the right side on a slide together with a paratype female. Paratypes: Five adult females mounted on 4 slides. 6 first-instar nymphs on 2 slides; and 4 second-instar female nymphs on 3 slides, all same data as holotype Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• WuHuLi2020: pp.447 ( Life Stages ) [Key to instars]

Remarks

• Systematics: The adult female of Kermicus huizhouensis is very similar to that of K. wroughtoni, but differs from it by (character states of K. wroughtoni in parentheses): anal ring with 16–20 setae (24–26 setae); and multilocular disc pores present in submarginal region of venter (in submarginal and marginal areas of venter). (Wu, et al., 2020)
• Structure: Body of living young adult female broadly oval, flat, orange-yellowish, venter and margin with fine white wax secretion; becoming heavily sclerotized with maturity, old female nearly spherical, reddish brown, venter with fine white wax secretion. Slide-mounted specimens. Body almost circular, 2.9–3.7 mm long and 2.5–3.4 mm wide. Anal lobes and apical setae not developed. Medial area of thoracic venter and area around anal ring heavily sclerotized. Antennae plate-like, each with 6–9 short setae. Eyes absent. Mouthparts developed, (Wu, et al., 2020) First-instar nymph body reddish, broadly oval, with rounded posterior end. Dorsum coated with thin white mealy powder, margin with thick white wax secretion. Second-instar nymph body broadly oval, flat or slightly convex, purplish red. Dorsum coated with a thin coating of white mealy wax, venter and margin with thick white wax secretion. (Wu, et al., 2020)
• Biology: Kermicus huizhouensis is ovoviviparous, evidenced by the presence of first-instar nymphs inside the bodies of adult females; also, in the laboratory, the second author observed an adult female giving birth to nymphs. The species may reproduce parthenogenetically, as among more than 300 individuals examined, neither adult males nor male prepupae or pupae were found.The mealybugs of K. huizhouensis are attended by the ant Tetraponera binghami. Holes made in bamboo stems by the ants are used by them to enter and leave the stem cavity; the mealybugs and ants cohabit cavities inside the stems and have a close mutualistic relationship. If the colony is disturbed, the ants carry away the first-instar mealybugs in their mandibles. (Wu, et al., 2020)
• General Remarks: Detailed descriptions and illustrations of adult female and first and second instar nymphs in Wu, et al., 2020.

Illustrations

Citations