Distribution

States

Victoria

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus froggatti Maskell, W.M. 1894. Remarks on certain genera of Coccidae. The Entomologist 27: 44-46, 93-95, 166-168 [94].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NZAC 2 slides with 1 adult ♀, 6 first-instar nymphs and several embryos + 2 pill boxes of dry material, Flemington, near Sydney, NSW; USNM 3 slides with 1 adult ♀, 2 first-instar nymphs and 5 first-instar nymphs + a box of dry meterial with several unopenend galls (Maskell Collection No. 378), Flemington, near Sydney, NSW.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca linariifolia Smith [MYRTACEAE] (synonym of Melaleuca trichostachya Lindley)

Generic Combinations

• Sphaerococcopsis froggatti (Maskell, 1894).
• Sphaerococcus froggatti (Maskell, 1894).
• Unplaced froggatti (Maskell, 1894).

Introduction

Having examined the type material, Miller et al. (1998) moved this species into the Eriococcidae for the following reasons: the first-instar nymph possesses microtubular ducts, enlarged lateral setae, and a 3-segmented labium. The adult female is very similar to the adult female of Sphaerococcus socialis.
Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae absent; hair-like body setae scattered over both surfaces; numerous quinquelocular pores on both surfaces; legs absent; antennae 1- or 2-segmented (see Miller 1999).
Females form brown or reddish yellow galls, attached at the base to the twigs of host. Galls are cup shaped in form, but covered with curling cylindrical processes, often much longer than the basal gall, so that the whole gall is enveloped in a feathery mass of these filaments. Adult female develops on the gall cavity, is dull red in color and is dusted with white meal giving it a bluish grey tint. Female is subglobular in form (see Froggatt 1921).

Distribution

States

Victoria

General References

Froggatt, W.W. 1921. A descriptive catalogue of the scale insects ('Coccidae') of Australia. Part III. Science Bulletin, Department of Agriculture, New South Wales 19: 1-43 [10]

Miller, D.R., Gullan, P.J. & Williams, D.J. 1998. Family placement of species previously included in the scale insect genus Sphaerococcus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 286-305 [291]

Miller, F. 1999. Take control of scale infestations. American Nurseryman 190(10): 14

History of changes

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus morrisoni elongata Fuller, C. 1899. XIV. Notes and descriptions of some species of Western Australian Coccidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1899: 435-473 [451] [Tentatively assigned to Eriococcidae by Miller et al. (1998) but they could not find any type material or specimen].

  Secondary source:

   Miller, D.R., Gullan, P.J. & Williams, D.J. 1998. Family placement of species previously included in the scale insect genus Sphaerococcus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 286-305 [295].

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus morrisoni morrisoni Fuller, C. 1897. Some Coccidae of Western Australia. Journal of Western Australia Bureau of Agriculture 4: 1344-1346 [1346] [Placed in Eriococcidae by Miller et al. (1998) after examination of the type material].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) USNM 3 slides with: 10 immature specimens; 4 adult ♀ and numerous embryos; 5 adult ♀, Penyarrah, WA.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca sp. [MYRTACEAE]

  Secondary source:

   Miller, D.R., Gullan, P.J. & Williams, D.J. 1998. Family placement of species previously included in the scale insect genus Sphaerococcus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 286-305 [295].

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus socialis Maskell, W.M. 1897. Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species and discussions of points of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 29: 293-331 [325].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NZAC 5 slides (with 1 uncleared adult ♂, 1 uncleared ♂, 2 adult ♀, 1 first-instar nymph) + 2 pill boxes of dry material, Geraldton, WA; USNM 2 slides, with 2 adult ♀ each (Maskell Collection Number 510), Geraldton, WA.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca or Calothamnus sp. [MYRTACEAE]

Introduction

According to Miller et al. (1998), the adult male of this species is very similar to the male of the 2 unidentified species of Opisthoscelis described by Theron (1968) by having the terminal 4 or 5 abdominal segments very elongate and attenuated. The adult females also are similar by having: the anterior end of the clypeolabral shield developed into 2 large lobe-like extensions; a 1 -segmented labium; and many simple quinquelocular pores. "Sphaerococciis" socialis adult females do not have the unusually elongate legs of Opisthoscelis species and are not congeneric. All Opisthoscelis species induce galls on Eucalyptus unlike S. socialis which occurs on Melaleuca or Calothamnus. The similarities of the adult males and females of S. socialis and Opisthoscelis species suggest a strong possibility of a close relationship .

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

Systematics

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae absent; hair-like body setae scattered over both surfaces; numerous dorsal quinquelocular pores on anterior abdominal segments, thorax, and head; legs absent; antennae 2- or 3-segmented; anal ring reduced to simple opening without setae or pores (see Miller 1999)

Structure

Galls globular, of a greyish or grey-green color, varying in size. Adult female dark red and globular. Parasitized insects are white. Female of the second stage is elliptical, brownish red. Larvae are reddish brown or yellowish brown, active and elliptical. Male pupa enclosed in a small white cottony cylindrical sac, within the gall. Adult male dark red, wings grey (see Maskell 1897)

General References

Miller, D.R., Gullan, P.J. & Williams, D.J. 1998. Family placement of species previously included in the scale insect genus Sphaerococcus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 286-305 [300]

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus tepperi Fuller, C. 1897. Some Coccidae of Western Australia. Journal of Western Australia Bureau of Agriculture 4: 1344-1346 [1346].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) USNM 1 slide with 7 adult ♀, 1 or 2 embryos and 1 shed skin (Brain Collection), Swan River, WA.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca sp.

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

Systematics

This species was moved to the Eriococcidae by Miller et al. (1998).

Structure

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae conical, sides straight, apices acute, restricted to posterior abdominal segments; multilocular pores absent; tubular ducts absent; hind legs represent by sclerotized swelling, covered with translucent pores; other legs absent; antennae 4- or 5-segmented; anal ring simple opening, without setae or pores (see Miller 1999).

Notes

Galls formed of aborted leaves and occupied by many coccids. They are spherical, flattened at the base and apex with the points of the aborted leaves protruding. Adult female flat, elongate, pyriform, yellow in color, eyes black (see Fuller 1899)

History of changes

• Sphaerococcus tormentosus Fuller, C. 1899. XIV. Notes and descriptions of some species of Western Australian Coccidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1899: 435-473 [450].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1 adult ♀ on slide + dry material in envelope, Western Australia; USNM 1 adult ♂ + 6 first-instar nymphs (Brain Collection), Swan River, WA.

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

GENERAL

This species was placed in the Eriococcidae by Afifi, S. & Kosztarab, M. 1967. Studies on the morphology and taxonomy of the males of Antonina and one related genus (Homoptera: Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Research Division Bulletin Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 15: 1–43, but no generic assignment has been made for its inclusion. The most detailed description of the female and first instar is by Fuller, C. 1899. XIV. Notes and descriptions of some species of Western Australian Coccidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1899: 435–473; Afifi, S. & Kosztarab, M. 1967. Studies on the morphology and taxonomy of the males of Antonina and one related genus (Homoptera: Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Research Division Bulletin Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 15: 1–43 presented a detailed description of the adult male.

STRUCTURE

According to Fuller, C. 1899. XIV. Notes and descriptions of some species of Western Australian Coccidae. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1899: 435–473, the adult females usually congregate together and secrete quantities of white wooly wax. The tests are subglobular with a central, longitudinal series of filaments. The first instar is yellow, elongate with 2 conspicuous anal tubercles. The adult male is brownish yellow and elongate.

General References

Girault, A.A. 1940. Three new Australian encyrtid genera. Ohio Journal of Science 40: 149-150 [Date published 31/05/1940] [149] (Sphaerococcus tomentosus: misspelling of species name)

History of changes