Australian Biological Resources Study

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Species Acanthococcus confusus (Maskell, 1892)

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria


Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

 

ID Keys

(Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A., 1991) [26] (adult female; Australian Eriococcus species infesting Eucalyptus); (Danzig, E.M., 1971) [823] (female; as Rhizococcus confusus; key to species of family Eriococcidae)

 

GENERAL

Most comprehensive description and photos of galls by Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A. 1991. The taxonomy of the gum tree scales Eriococcus confusus Maskell and E. coriaceus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). General and Applied Entomology 23: 21–40. Type information is compiled by Deitz, L.L. & Tocker, M.F. 1980. W.M. Maskell's Homoptera: Species-group names and type-material. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Information Series 146: 1–76.

BIOLOGY

Individuals densely aggregated with tests often appearing to coalesce. On smaller stems and midribs of leaves of many Eucalyptus species (see Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A. 1991. The taxonomy of the gum tree scales Eriococcus confusus Maskell and E. coriaceus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). General and Applied Entomology 23: 21–40).

SYSTEMATICS

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae elongate, apices acute, slightly curved, all about same size; last abdominal segment with cluster of 5 to 16 microtubular ducts on medial area of dorsum, macrotubular ducts absent from posteriomedial area of dorsum (see Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A. 1991. The taxonomy of the gum tree scales Eriococcus confusus Maskell and E. coriaceus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). General and Applied Entomology 23: 21–40). Eriococcus confusus Maskell, 1892 is the senior secondary homonym of E. confusus Danzig,1962. The name E. confusus Danzig has been replaced with E. danzigae.

STRUCTURE

Sac of female dirty-white or grey with a leathery covering that is yellowish-brown (see Froggatt, W.W. 1921. A descriptive catalogue of the scale insects (Coccidae) of Australia. (Part II [Concl.]). Science Bulletin, Department of Agriculture, New South Wales 18: 1–159. Adult female is dull brownish-yellow to dark red, broadly oval and convex (see Maskell, W.M. 1892. Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species, and remarks on coccids from New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 24: 1–64 [dated 1891]) and densely aggregated (see Vranjic, J.A. 1990. Taxonomy and host plant relations of gum tree scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). Cracow : Agricultural University Press). Crushed body contents are orange-brown. Adults crushed in 10% KOH solution are yellowish-brown at first, then turning greenish brown (see Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A. 1991. The taxonomy of the gum tree scales Eriococcus confusus Maskell and E. coriaceus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). General and Applied Entomology 23: 21–40).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
05-Jun-2024 COCCOIDEA 20-Nov-2023 MODIFIED Dr Vivian Sandoval (ABRS)
21-Nov-2012 01-May-2014 MODIFIED
29-Jun-2012 29-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)