Valid Names Results

Leucaspis gigas (Maskell, 1879) (Diaspididae: Leucaspis)

Nomenclatural History

• Diaspis gigas Maskell 1879: 201-202. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: Christchurch, Riccarton Bush. Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (BoerVa1977,155). Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; accepted valid name Notes: Material also in USNM.
• Fiorinia asteliae (Maskell, 1879); Maskell 1880: 292. emendation that is unjustified (discovered by Green1916d, 51). Notes: Maskell, deciding that gigas did not belong to Diaspis moved it to Fiorinia and replaced the species epithet with asteliae.
• Uhleria gigas (Maskell, 1879); Comstock 1883: 111. change of combination
• Fiorinia gigas (Maskell, 1879); Fernald 1903b: 248. change of combination
• Leucaspis gigas (Maskell, 1879); Lindinger 1906: 27. change of combination
• Leucaspis (Euleucaspis) gigas (Maskell, 1879); Lindinger 1906: 27. change of combination
• Leucaspis myersi Green 1929: 386-389. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: South Island, Wellington, on Pseudopanax crassifolium, 14/09/1921. Syntypes, female, Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by BoerVa1977, 155). Illustr.
• Leucodiaspis gigas (Maskell, 1879); Lindinger 1932b: 107. emendation that is unjustified Notes: Kirkaldy (1904a) considered Leucaspis Signoret 1869 preoccupied by Leucaspis Burmeister, 1835, in the Hymenoptera and suggested that the Signoret name be replaced with Leucodiaspis. Ferris (1936a) rejected this, considering it unnecessary (Morrison & Morrison, 1966).
• Apteronidia myersi (Green, 1929); Lindinger 1934: 36. change of combination
• Maniaspis gigas (Maskell, 1879); Borchsenius 1964a: 869. change of combination

Common Names

• keikie scale Miller1925

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 10 | Genera: 14

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Hodgso2020: pp.146-147 ( Adult (M) ) [Diaspididae]
• Borchs1964a: pp.869 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Maniaspis] Key as: Maniaspis gigas
• Balach1953g: pp.846 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Leucaspis]
• Britti1937: pp.285 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Leucaspis]
• MacGil1921: pp.264 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Leucaspis]
• Leonar1906c: pp.18 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Fiorinia] Key as: Fiorinia gigas
• Lindin1906: pp.27 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Leucaspis Euleucaspis] Key as: Leucaspis Euleucaspis gigas

Remarks

• Systematics: Borchsenius (1964) created the combination Maniaspis gigas, but from his discussion it is clear he was referring to Fiorinia morrisi and not Leucaspis gigas. Salicicola maskelli (Brittin) is sometimes confused with L. gigas (Boer & Valentine, 1977). Deitz & Tocker (1980) seemed to treat gigas and asteliae as valid species. Based on Nada and Mohammad’s (1984) description and illustration, the adult male of L. riccae is extremely similar to that of L. gigas differing mainly in having short antennal setae, each about the width of an antennal segment, whereas those on L. gigas are much longer. (Hodgson, 2020)
• Structure: Scale cover yellowish brown, or dirty white, flat, panduriform, thin, transparent. Adult female and eggs creamy in color, enclosed in thin, translucent, creamy brown exuvium of 2nd instar female. Adult female broadly oval, about 1.4-1.8 mm long, derm membranous, mid-venter with fine, scaly granulations; pygidium with sclerotized area around anal opening and several small sclerotized patches over surface. Second instar female 1.6-2.3 mm long, broadly oval, similar to adult female in shape, but pygidium more acute (Boer & Valentine, 1977). Male puparium is long, narrow, whitish and with the appearance of a semi-cylinder lying up on a plane base (Maskell, 1879).
• Economic Importance: Miller & Davidson (1990) list this insect as a pest.
• General Remarks: Detailed description by Green (1929). Detailed redescription and illustration by Boer & Valentine (1977).

Illustrations

Citations