Spilococcus alhagii (Hall)

MOGHADDAM, MASUMEH & WATSON, GILLIAN W., 2022, The Scale Insects Of Iran (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) Part 2 The Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae And Rhizoecidae) And Putoidae, Zootaxa 5126 (1), pp. 1-169 : 124-126

Spilococcus alhagii (Hall)

( Fig. 56 , distribution map Fig. 70 G )

Pseudococcus alhagii Hall, 1926: 7 . Spilococcus alhagii Ezzat, 1960: 43 . Atrococcus alhagii Danzig & Gavrilov, 2014: 238 .

Field characteristics: Not recorded.

Microscopic diagnosis: Slide-mounted adult female narrowly to broadly oval. Anal lobe moderately developed. Antennae each with 8 segments. Legs well developed; hind tibia with a series of unusually large translucent pores on dorsal surface only; claw with a single minute denticle; tarsal digitules pointed at tip and shorter than claw. Cerarii numbering at most 15 or 16 pairs. Anal lobe cerarii each with 2 conical setae, about 5 auxiliary setae and a cluster of trilocular pores. Anterior cerarii on abdomen, each with 2 conical setae shorter and much slenderer than those on anal lobes, and 4 or 5 trilocular pores. On head, C 1 and C 3 usually discernible, each with 2 slender setae similar to normal dorsal setae; sometimes cerarii difficult to locate. Circulus present, divided by an intersegmental line. Ostioles well developed. Anal ring complete, with 2 rows of pores and 6 setae.

Dorsum with short slender setae, mainly across medial areas of segments. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Oral rim tubular ducts present mainly in rows across medial areas of segments. Oral collar tubular ducts absent.

Venter with setae same as those on dorsum but mostly slightly longer. Multilocular disc pores each with 10 loculi, present mainly on posterior edges of abdominal segments VI and VII, but a few present near anterior edges, and posterior to vulva. Trilocular pores evenly distributed. Oral rim ducts usually present singly on margins of thoracic segments, but sometimes absent. Oral collar ducts present across medial areas of most abdominal segments, reaching to margins; a few also present around margins of head and thorax and occasionally 1 or 2 situated medially on thorax.

Distribution: Spilococcus alhagii is a Palaearctic species, known from Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran ( García Morales et al. 2016), where it is known from Esfahan, Fars and Khouzestan provinces ( Asadeh & Mossadegh 1993a, Williams & Moghaddam 2007).

Host-plants: The species has been recorded on host-plants in 10 genera belonging to nine families ( García Morales et al. 2016). In Iran it is found on Punica granatum (Lythraceae) and Zizyphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) ( Asadeh & Mossadegh 1993a, Williams & Moghaddam 2007).

Economic importance: None.

Natural enemies: None recorded.

Comments: Danzig & Gavrilov-Zimin (2015) proposed several generic changes in mealybug classification, including placing most species of Spilococcus Ferris in the older genus Atrococcus Goux. Examination of phylogenies using molecular and morphological characters ( Hardy et al. 2008; Kaydan et al. 2015) or molecular characters alone ( Downie & Gullan 2004) do not agree with the above action, and it is not followed here. There is considerable variation in the number of pores and ducts in the adult female of this species ( Matile-Ferrero 1988; Williams & Moghaddam 2007).

The accompanying illustration is reproduced from Williams & Moghaddam (2007), page 42, Fig. 2 , with kind permission from the authors and the Chief Editor of Zootaxa.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Adult female of Antonina crawi Cockerell.

FIGURE 56. Adult female of Spilococcus alhagii (Hall). © Magnolia Press, www.mapress.com/j/zt, reproduced with the copyright holder’s permission.

FIGURE 70. Maps of species distributions in Iran. A. Planococcus vovae (Nasonov); B. Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana); C. Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti); D. Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret); E. Rhodania aeluropi Williams & Moghaddam; F. Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell); G. Spilococcus alhagii (Hall); H. Spilococcus mirzayansi (Moghaddam); I. Spilococcus williamsi sp. n.; J. Trabutina crassispinosa Borchsenius; K. Trabutina mannipara (Hemprich & Ehrenberg); L. Trabutina serpentina (Green).