Valid Names Results

Octococcus Hall, 1939 (Pseudococcidae)

Nomenclatural History

• Octococcus Hall 1939: 93. Type species: Octococcus pentziae Hall by original designation . accepted valid name

Remarks

• Systematics: Subfamily: Pseudococcinae (Choi & Lee, 2022) Octococcus is considered to be part of the tribe Trabutinini according to Hardy et al. (2008). There is a diverse array of genera included in the tribe. Miller & Giliomee, 2016, examined adult female specimens and descriptions of most of these genera and also have examined a number of first-instar nymphs. Interestingly, the seven-segmented antennae of the first-instar nymphs of Octococcus appear to be unique within the Pseudococcidae. Octococcus and Trabutina Marchal are similar by having a reduced number of cerarii, conical or lanceolate setae on the posterior dorsum of the abdomen, and some setae on hind coxa, trochanter, and femur larger than other leg setae. Octococcus differs (character states given in brackets are those of Trabutina) by normally lacking anterior ostioles (present in Trabutina); having normal eighth abdominal segment (enlarged); few long setae around anal ring (many); complete anal ring (incomplete); clubbed tarsal digitules (simple); oral-rim tubular ducts present (absent); oral-collar tubular ducts absent, replaced by oral rims (present). Octococcus also is similar to Hypogeococcus Rau in the adult female by having a reduced number of cerarii; conical or lanceolate setae on the posterior dorsum of the abdomen; eye normally located on the dorsum; and setae on the anterior margin of the antennae are enlarged. Octococcus differs (character states given in brackets are those of Hypogeococcus) by having trilocular pores (usually absent); anterior ostioles usually absent (present); anal ring of normal size for a pseudococcid (greatly enlarged); and circulus absent (usually present). Octococcus also is similar to Hypogeococcus (Miller 1983) and Trabutina (Danzig & Miller 1996) in the immature instars by having tubular ducts on all but the first instar. (Miller & Giliomee, 2016)
• Structure: Hall used the name ‘octo’ for the eight setae associated with the anal ring, a character state that is atypical of mealybugs, which generally have six anal-ring setae. Hall recognized that the posterior pair was not a true anal-ring seta but thought that its close association with the anal ring was unusual enough to name the new genus Octococcus for the eight setae on or near the anal ring. (Miler & Giliomee, 2016)
• General Remarks: Good definition and characters given by Hall (1939) and by De Lotto (1969, 1977). Detailed redescription in Miller & Giliomee, 2016.

Keys

• Millar2002: pp.189-195 ( Adult (F) ) [Pseudococcidae genera of South Africa]
• AfifiKo1967: pp.11 ( Adult (F) ) [World]

Associated References

• Afifi1968: taxonomy, pp. 151
• BenDov1994: catalog, pp. 258
• DeLott1969: description, taxonomy, pp. 30
• DeLott1977: description, taxonomy, pp. 16
• Hall1939: description, taxonomy, pp. 93
• HardyGuHo2008: taxonomy, pp. 58
• Millar2002: taxonomy, pp. 185-233
• MillerGi2016: description, history, host, key, morphology, revision, pp. 112-114
• MorrisMo1966: taxonomy, pp. 137

6 Species