PSEUDOCOCCIDAE Westwood, 1840

Hodgson, Chris, 2012, Comparison of the morphology of the adult males of the rhizoecine, phenacoccine and pseudococcine mealybugs (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea), with the recognition of the family Rhizoecidae Williams 3291, Zootaxa 3291 (1), pp. 1-79 : 62

PSEUDOCOCCIDAE Westwood, 1840

Introduction. As here understood, the Pseudococcidae includes two subfamilies, the Phenacoccinae and the Pseudococcinae ( Williams & Gullan, 2010). The former contains about 50 genera (excluding those here considered to belong to Rhizoecidae ) and the latter about 200 genera ( Hardy et al., 2008). Currently, there is no satisfactory or generally accepted suprageneric classification for the mealybugs ( Downie & Gullan, 2004). Williams and Gullan (2010) listed eight family-group names belonging to the Phenacoccinae (including Geococcina Kozár, Rhizoecini Williams, Ripersiellina Kozár and Xenococcinae Tang – all here considered to fall within the Rhizoecidae ) and 12 belonging to the Pseudococcinae but it is unlikely that all of these will be used in future classifications.

Several adult males of both subfamilies have been described in some detail in the last 50 years, starting with Beardsley (1960; 1962; 1964) and Afifi (1968). More recent studies are mainly by Miller and colleagues (Miller: 1975; 1999; Miller & McKenzie, 1970; Miller & Appleby, 1971; Miller & Denno, 1977; Miller & Polavarapu, 1997; Miller & Miller, 2002) but there are also descriptions of adult males in Williams (1985) and Williams and Miller (1999). Almost all these males are macropterous and of rather uniform structure.

In order to compare the rhizoecine males described above with those of the Pseudococcidae (as here restricted), a fairly typical macropterous male belonging to the Phenacoccinae , Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley , is illustrated ( Fig. 23 ). Representing the Pseudococcinae , the macropterous male of Paracoccus glaucus (Maskell) is described and illustrated below and that of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) is illustrated ( Fig. 25 ). Few apterous adult male mealybugs have been described in detail previously. That of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) was described by both Beardsley (1960) and Afifi (1968) but this is very obviously a pseudococcid, even though it has: (i) lost both pairs of simple eyes, (ii) has a reduced number of antennal segments compared with the macropterous form, and (iii) has no neck constriction. In addition the apterous males of Dysmicoccus vaccinii Miller & Polavarapu is also clearly a pseudococcine and still has all the mesothoracic sclerites typical of macropterous forms, and that of D. jenniferae Williams is also clearly a mealybug as it has ostioles, glandular pouches, a strong postoccular ridge and ocelli. To supplement this lack of descriptions of apterous species, two further apterous male Pseudococcinae are described below, Asaphococcus agninus Cox and the myrmecophilous Promymococcus dilli Williams. These are far more female-like and much more similar to apterous male Rhizoecidae . As stated above, the morphology of macropterous males of Pseudococcidae (as here restricted) is remarkably uniform and is diagnosed in the key above (p. 8) and also in Afifi (1968, p. 196). On the basis of our present knowledge, the species and genera within these two subfamilies differ due to relatively small variations in such features as presence or absence of fleshy setae on the body, length of setae on antennae, presence of absence of an interocular ridge, presence or absence of a small membranous area medially on the scutum, etc. ( Hardy et al., 2008). Perhaps the most striking variation is the presence of two pairs of glandular pouches on most Phenacoccinae , with one pair on abdominal segment VII and the other on segment VIII (see Fig. 23 ), whereas there is only one pair on the Pseudococcinae (on segment VIII (see Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE 23. Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. Adult male. Where A = loculate pore of glandular pouch; C = loculate pores; D = simple pore; J = dorsal view of posterior end of abdomen; K = claw, and L = vemtral view of penial sheath. For other labels, see under Materials and methods: conventions. (Modified after Hodgson et al., 2008).

FIGURE 24. Paracoccus glaucus (Maskell). Adult male. Where C = loculate pores; D = simple pore; J = dorsal view of posterior end of abdomen; K1 = tibio-tarsal articulation; K2 = claw; L = ventral view of posterior end of abdomen, and N = side view of penial sheath of P. marginatus Williams (latter modified after Miller and Miller, 2002). For other labels, see under Materials and methods: conventions.

FIGURE 25. Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). Adult male. Where A = hair-like seta; B = fleshy seta; C = loculate pores; E = minute simple pore; F = cranial apophysis; H = side view of aedeagus, and Q = apical antennal segment. For other labels, see under Materials and methods: conventions.