Species Eriococcus coriaceus Maskell, 1893

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• Eriococcus coriaceus Maskell, W.M. 1893. Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species from Australia, India, Sandwich Islands, Demerara, and South Pacific. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 25: 201-252 [229].

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

ID Keys

(Gullan, P.J. & Vranjic, J.A., 1991) [26] (adult female; Australian Eriococcus species on Eucalyptus); (Hoy, J.M., 1962) [31] (adult female; New Zealand Eriococcidae)

GENERAL

Best description, illustration and type information 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. Also described by Maskell, W.M. 1893. Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species from Australia, India, Sandwich Islands, Demerara, and South Pacific. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 25: 201–252. Type information also provided 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

There are four or five generations each year in Adelaide, Australia (see Patel, J.D. 1971. Morphology of the Gum Tree Scale Eriococcus coriaceus Maskell (Homoptera: Eriococcidae), with notes on its life history and habits near Adelaide, South Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 10: 43–56 and Gough, N. 1975. The ecology of the Gum Tree Scale (Eriococcus coriaceus Maskell), and its natural enemies. Ph.D. Thesis : Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia.).

SYSTEMATICS

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae elongate, apices acute, slightly curved, becoming increasingly larger posteriorly; macrotubular ducts absent from posteriomedial area of dorsum; microtubular ducts sparse on dorsal abdomen, often in irregular transverse row on each segment (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. Anal lobes each with 6 setae (see Hoy, J.M. 1962. Eriococcidae (Homoptera: Coccoidea) of New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 146: 1–219).

STRUCTURE

Adult female broadly oval. Crushed body contents reddish brown and crimson to scarlet in 10% KOH solution (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). Sac of female ovoid to globular in shape, varying from light yellow or buff to dark orange or red and are typically discretely spaced (see Vranjic, J.A. 1990. Taxonomy and host plant relations of gum tree scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). Cracow : Agricultural University Press). Sac of male pupa of similar color, but smaller. Adult female is dark red and fills the sac (see Maskell, W.M. 1893. Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species from Australia, India, Sandwich Islands, Demerara, and South Pacific. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 25: 201–252).

ECONOMIC AND CONTROL

This species can cause severe dieback and even death of young eucalyptus trees (see Hoy, J.M. 1962. Eriococcidae (Homoptera: Coccoidea) of New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 146: 1–219 and Elliott, H.J. & deLittle, D.W. 1985. Insect Pests of Trees and Timber in Tasmania. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia : Forestry Commission 90 pp.)

Common Name References

DeBach, P. (ed.) & Schlinger, E.I. (assist. ed.) 1964. Biological Control of Insect Pests and Weeds. London : Chapman & Hall 844 pp. (Blue Gum Scale)

French, F.E.S. 1911. In, A Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria, with Notes on the Methods of Prevention and Extirpation. Melbourne : R.S. Brain, Government Printer 166 pp. (Common Gum Scale)

Hockings, F.D. 1980. Friends and Foes of Australian Gardens (including pests, diseases, parasites and predators). Sydney : Reed, in association with the Society for Growing Australian Plants 151 pp. (Rice Bubble Scale)

Kirk, T.W. & Cockayne, A.H. 1909. Scale insects in New Zealand. Report, New Zealand Department of Agriculture 17: 273-285 (cited also by ) (Gum Tree Scale)

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