Valid Names Results

Kerria communis (Mahdihassan, 1923) (Tachardiidae (= Kerriidae): Kerria)

Nomenclatural History

• Lakshadia communis Mahdihassan 1923: 98. Type data: INDIA: Karnataka (=Mysore), host plant not specified.. Syntypes, female, accepted valid name Notes: Depository of type material unknown (Kapur, 1958).
• Laccifer communis (Mahdihassan, 1923); Chamberlin 1925: 38. change of combination
• Tachardia communis (Mahdihassan, 1923); Lindinger 1933b: 228. change of combination
• Kerria (Kerria) communis (Mahdihassan, 1923); Varshney 1966: 117. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 19 | Genera: 38

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• MishraSu2000: pp.216-217 ( Adult (F) ) [Kerria species of India]
• Varshn1976: pp.21 ( Adult (F) ) [India]

Remarks

• Systematics: The original description reads: "The darkest lac almost garnet-coloured or ruby-coloured variety, comes from F. mysorensis. It is also found in Hyderabad on F. benghalensis and also to a lesser extent on F. religiosa. In Bombay I found the same species on Albizia lebbek in December 1916. My friend Mr. Swaminathan, of the National University, Adyar, sent me specimens of lac, found on F. benjamina in the Botanical gardens, Madras, which again belongs to this insect. It might be the same species, which also occurs more or less rarely in Indo-China and in the Philippines. Considering its wide distribution with regard to host-plants and geography, I propose calling it Lakshadia communis." (Mahdihassan, 1923).
• General Remarks: In the BMNH collection is deposited one slides (3 specimens) labelled "Tachardia communis, Ficus mysorensis, India, Bangalore, ex-coll. Mahdihassan"; (Jon Martin, The Natural History Museum, London, February 24, 1999, in letter to Yair Ben-Dov). Chamberlin (1925) suggested that this "species" (quotation marks by Chamberlin) is probably a synonym of Kerria lacca, although perhaps forming a distinct race. Varshney (1976) regarded it as "sp. inquirenda".

Illustrations

Citations