Walkeriana Signoret

Watson, Gillian W., 2022, Towards identification of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) of continental Africa: 2. Checklists and keys to six archaeococcoid families, Zootaxa 5105 (3), pp. 301-356 : 337

Genus Walkeriana Signoret

Walkeriana is a genus containing nine nominal species that have been little studied ( García Morales et al. 2016). According to the literature, two occur in Africa; however, W. andreae from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is reportedly a pre-adult Aspidoproctus ( Vayssière 1926) . Walkeriana digitifrons occurs in Uganda on Fabaceae (Baikiaea) ; it is of no economic importance (Newstead 1920; Vayssière 1926). Appearance in life: “Adult female somewhat pyriform, narrowed in front; highly convex and sloping gradually towards the cephalic margin. Dorsum more-or-less covered with an easily deciduous layer of white or pale buff-white, granular wax; margin with relatively robust, coalescing plates of white wax, which, when perfect, are distinctly laminated transversely; cephalic margin with a short stout centrally placed, cylindrical process” (Newstead 1920). Adult female co-type with antenna 11 segmented; margin on each side with about 12 segmental tubercles, each bearing a few tubular bilocular pores (each pore elevated above body surface when seen in profile); and 3 well-spaced cicatrices posterior to vulva. Unfortunately, no illustration of W. digitifrons is available. The genotype, W. floriger (Walker) , is shown in Fig. 18 ; it does not occur in Africa and differs from W. digitifrons in lacking tubercles and in having closely packed cicatrices.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Walkeriana floriger (Walker), adult female, developed from Morrison (1928: 142, Fig. 68). Note that this illustration shows the genotype, a species that does not occur in Africa.