Gigantococcus euphorbiae (Brain)

Unruh, Corinne M. & Gullan, Penny J., 2008, Identification guide to species in the scale insect tribe Iceryini (Coccoidea: Monophlebidae), Zootaxa 1803 (1), pp. 1-106 : 57

Gigantococcus euphorbiae (Brain)

Icerya euphorbiae Brain, 1915: 167 .

Steatococcus euphorbiae (Brain) ; Morrison (1928: 208).

Gigantococcus euphorbiae (Brain) ; Unruh & Gullan (2008: 37) .

Unmounted material. Adult female an orange-red colour, covered in thick waxy secretion not divided into distinct masses; as adult female matures, wax towards margin and posterior end breaks away from body, which causes the appearance of waxy groups (adapted from Brain, 1915).

Slide-mounted material. Adult female oval, 5.9–8.0 mm long, 4.4–5.0 mm wide (lectotype 5.9 mm long, 4.4 mm wide). Eyes, mouthparts and legs as for tribe. Antennae 10 segmented. Thoracic spiracles as for genus; derm outside atrium with 6–20 pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with bilocular or trilocular centre and 4–6 outer loculi. Hair-like setae covering derm, longest around margins, especially at posterior abdomen. Flagellate setae scattered on derm, densest on ventral head and thorax. Simple multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with bilocular or trilocular centre and 4–6 outer loculi, scattered on ventromedial head and thorax. Simple multilocular pores, each 12–14 µm in diameter, with trilocular (sometimes bilocular or quadrilocular) centre and 6–9 outer loculi, covering dorsal surface and ventral margin. Marsupium present, shaped as for genus, marsupial band made of simple multilocular pores, each 8–10 µm in diameter with bilocular or trilocular centre and 4–6 outer loculi. Simple multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with trilocular centre and 7–10 outer loculi, scattered around outer edge of marsupial band. Simple multilocular pores, each with bilocular or trilocular centre at 4–8 outer loculi, scattered on ventromedial abdomen (within marsupial cavity). Multilocular pores, each 8–10 µm in diameter, with quinquelocular, hexalocular centre and 5–8 outer loculi, sparsely scattered across ventral abdomen and around ventral submargin to margin. Compound multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with 8–12 lobed centre and 6–8 slightly reniform outer loculi, scattered around ventral submargin to margin. Vulvar opening as for genus. Cicatrices hourglassshaped, numbering 3, subequal in size. Abdominal spiracles as for genus. Anal tube as for genus; anal opening as for genus, surrounded by long, hair-like setae.

Type data. SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province, East London, ex Euphorbia tree, 1898 (C.P. Lounsbury) and same data, except i.1915 (J. L. King) .

Type material. Lectotype here designated: ad ♀, “ Icerya / euphorbiae Brain. /on Tree Euphorbia./ E. London. C.P./ Jan. 1915./- ♀ Type -”//“7./C.K.B.” ( USNM) . Paralectotypes: ad ♀, “ Icerya / euphorbiae Brain /on Tree Euphorbia./ E. London C.P./ Jan. 1915 /-Paratype-”//“7./C.K.B.” ( USNM) ; 6 first-instar nymphs (one slide), same data as lectotype, except, “Larvae –Type –” instead of “- ♀ Type –” ( USNM) ; additional material ( SANC) .

Taxonomic notes. Refer to the Gi. ewarti group for discussion of similar species.

The lectotype slide has a piece of paper included in the slide envelope which reads, “Type Slide of: ♂ + ♀./49. Icerya euphorbiae Brain /Cocc. S.A.I. p. 167, 168 Coll. No: 7.” The slide, however, does not have a slide-mounted male. The slide with 6 first-instar nymph paralectotypes has a piece of paper included in the slide enveloped and reads, “Type Slide of Larvae of/49 Icerya euphorbiae Brain /Cocc. S.A.I. 167.168 Coll: No: 7”. Brain’s description of the adult male is based on specimens mounted by Claude Fuller in 1898 and his description of the male puparium is taken directly from Fuller’s notes ( Brain, 1915: 103). This species is described from two different collections spaced 17 years apart. The material at USNM is from the 1915 collection only and presumably, the material at SANC is from the 1898 collection and includes the adult male .