Valid Names Results

Kerria destructor Talukder and Das, 2020 (Tachardiidae (= Kerriidae): Kerria)

Nomenclatural History

• Kerria destructor Talukder and Das 2020. Type data: INDIA: West Bengal, Nadia, Kalyani (22.97° N, 88.43° E), 4/18/2019, on Albizia saman (Fabaceae), by. B. Talukder.. Holotype, female, by original designation Type depository: Kalyani: Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bihan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes. (9 specimens), 1 slide (1 adult ♀), (ZSI, Kolkata, Registration No. 9619/H15), with same collection data as for holotype; also 8 slide mounted adult ♀♀, (collection data same as for holotype) (B.K. Das collection at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, BCKV). Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• RajgopMoSh2021: pp.65-66 ( Adult (F) ) [species of Kerria]
• TalukdDa2020: pp.10-12 ( Adult (F) ) [Kerria species]

Remarks

• Systematics: Kerria destructor is similar to K. manipurensis and K. javana. It differs from K. manipurensis in having (character-states in K. manipurensis in brackets): i) brachial plate subcircular with 6–9 dimples (brachial plate quadrate/rectangular with 4 dimples), ii) each anterior spiracle length is smaller or equal to width of brachial plate (1.31x longer than the width of brachial plate), iii) dorsal spine 333–351 (344) μm long; spine equal to the length of pedicel (dorsal spine 155–300 μm long, pedicel shorter than spine), iv) each dorsal duct cluster with 8–15 tubular ducts (with 5–10 tubular ducts), v) posterior spiracles, each 91–114 (104) μm long, without a sclerotised plate, with 40–45 spiracular pores present along one side of spiracle (posterior spiracles each 70–80 μm long, born on a sclerotised plate, with 46–70 spiracular pores present along one side of spiracle), v) each marginal duct cluster consisting of 28–32 ducts (consisting of 43–49 ducts), vi) perivulvar pore clusters: 8 or 9 on each side of anal tubercle (12–14 on each side), and vii) quinquelocular pores near mouthparts absent (present). It differs from K. javana in having (character- states in K. javana in brackets): i) brachial plate subcircular with 6–9 dimples (brachial plate quadrate/rectangular with 4–5 dimples), ii) dorsal spine 1.26x longer than width of brachial plate (subequal in length to width of brachial plate), iii) dorsal spine well developed and well separated from pedicel by a deep constriction (dorsal spine slender, without a deep constriction between pedicel and spine), iv) perivulvar pore clusters: 8 or 9 on each side of anal tubercle (11–13 on each side), v) marginal duct clusters 3 pairs, each marginal duct cluster consisting of 28–32 ducts (marginal duct clusters 6 pairs; each with 37–50 ducts), and vi) quinquelocular pores near mouth parts absent quinquelocular pores near mouth parts present). (Talikder & Das, 2020)
• Structure: Lac test reddish brown. Tests occurring in aggregations; live mature females small, globular and crimson Mounted adult female shown in the Fig. 2B. Body length 3.16–4.43 (3.46) mm, width 2.42–4.16 (3.14) mm at middle (n = 10). (Talukder & Das, 2020)
• Economic Importance: K. destructor has been recorded killing large Rain Treesdue to aggressive multiplication, repeated generations on the same tree and lack of proper management over a long time.(Rajgopal, et al., 2021) It is almost certainly an invasive species in India, although it’s native range is still unknown. Dr. Takumasa Kondo (per. comm., 2020) informed BKD that no kerrid is found on Albizia saman in South America, the native place of the host. Other invasive species have expanded their range substantially in their new environment after being recognised as an invasive species, and, assuming that K. destructor is not indigenous, a range expansion would not be unexpected. If this spread continues, it is quite possible that this valuable tree species could become much rarer across the Indian subcontinent in future. (Talukder & Das, 2020)
• General Remarks: Detailed description, photographs and illustration of adult female in Talukder & Das, 2020.

Illustrations

Citations