Valid Names Results

Pellucidaspis epiphytidis (Maskell, 1885) (Diaspididae: Pellucidaspis)

Nomenclatural History

• Mytilaspis epiphytidis Maskell 1885a: 21-22. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: on Astelia cunninghamii. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; accepted valid name Illustr.
• Lepidosaphes epiphytidis (Maskell, 1885); Fernald 1903b: 308. change of combination
• Berlesaspis epiphytidis (Maskell, 1885); MacGillivray 1921: 289. change of combination
• Lepidosaphes asteliae Green 1929: 377-378. Type data: NEW ZEALAND: North Island, York Bay, Wellington, on Astelia solandri, by J.G. Myers. Unknown type status, unknown, Type depository: Eberswalde: Institut fur Pflanzenschutzforschung, Germany; junior synonym (discovered by Hender2011, 125-126). Illustr.
• Symeria epiphytidis; Green 1929: 379. misidentification
• Chionaspis asteliae (Green, 1929); Lindinger 1933: 32. change of combination
• Andaspis asteliae (Green, 1929); Borchsenius 1966: 70. change of combination
• Pellucidaspis epiphytidis (Maskell, 1885); Henderson 2011: 123-126. change of combination
• Pellucidiaspis epiphytidis; Williams, D.J. 2017a: 218. misspelling of genus name

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 2

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• GomezM1927a: pp.292 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Berlesaspis] Key as: Berlesaspis epiphytidis
• MacGil1921: pp.289 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Berlesaspis] Key as: Berlesaspis spiphytidis

Remarks

• Systematics: Synonymy is based on examination of the Maskell original slide (a good, uncleared female specimen) by Henderson, 2011, and a subsequent slide containing 2 females mounted in 1968 by J. A. de Boer from Maskell dry collection #10 of M. epiphytidis (good, well stained). There is no further Maskell dry material remaining. The statement by Green (1929) that Lepidosaphes asteliae was similar to Mytilaspis epiphytidis but that the latter had median lobes separated by an appreciable gap whereas in L. asteliae they were firmly fused together, pertains to the misidentifications of these species at that time. L. asteliae with yoked median lobes (firmly fused at the base only) is a junior synonym of P. epiphytidis while the other taxon with median lobes separated by an appreciable gap is in fact Symeria pyriformis. Mytilaspis epiphytidis Maskell. LECTOTYPE female, NEW ZEALAND, labelled "Mytilaspis epiphytidis, Female and puparium, from Astelia, Aug 1884, W.M.M." Maskell (1885) gave the host plant as Astelia cunninghamiii [=Astelia solandri] (NZAC) Lepidosaphes asteliae Green. LECTOTYPE female, NEW ZEALAND, WN, slide labelled "from Astelia solandri, York Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. Coll. J. G. Myers". "TYPE": [1]: 1 F (BMNH), and is the female on the end of the outer row nearest TYPE label, and indicated by a map on the slide cover. Paralectotypes: the remaining 3 females on the lectotype slide: 3F (BMNH).Green (1929) established the genus Symeria for the species identified by him as Mytilaspis epiphytidis Maskell 1885a. Morrison & Morrison (1966) determined that the original Maskell lot contained more than one species and that Green's description was not of epiphytidis. They proposed the new name Symeria zealandica. However, Morrison & Morrison did not describe zealandica sufficiently to qualify as a valid name under the rules of Zoological Nomenclature so it is treated as a nomen nudum. Rosa Henderson in a revision of the armored scales of New Zealand has determined that Symeria epiphytidis as described by Green in 1929 is synonymous with Symeria Pyriformis (Maskell).
• Structure: Body colour of female is yellow with dark pygidium, the median lobes forming a point; eggs yellow. Scale cover of varying translucence; (a) when on Astelia species: botanically, leaves of Astelia species have a pellicle of fused scales that can lift off in long sheets P. epiphytidis utilises this semi-attached plant pellicle as an additional cover for the 1st and 2nd stadia, and as a substitute cover for the adult female. 1st- and 2nd-exuvia are present, but are often separated from the anterior end of the female’s body, which is clearly visible under the translucent plant pellicle, as are the eggs when they are produced; (b) when on Collospermum species: the adult female cover appears more opaque because the plant pellicle is more dense and there may be some wax added to it, however, this cover is effectivly a pocket in the plant epidermis and not easily lifted off the body of the underlying scale insect and an apparently more waxy scale cover is produced in a colder climate.Female scale flat, pyriform, brown, thin. Male scale narrower than that of female and a good deal darker, sometimes almost black, not carinated. Adult female abdomen ending in 2 median lobes, along the edge several deepish curvilinear incisions between which are some strong spines (Maskell, 1885a).
• General Remarks: Detailed redescription and illustrations in Henderson, 2011.Detailed description and illustration by Maskell (1885a). Redescription and illustrations in Henderson, 2011.

Illustrations

Citations