Species Eriococcus orariensis Hoy, 1954

Museums

Regional Maps

• Eriococcus orariensis Hoy, J.M. 1954. A new species of Eriococcus Targ. (Hemiptera, Coccidae) attacking Leptospermum in New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 465-474 [465].
• Eriococcus manukae Mulock, A.P. 1954. A disease of manuka Leptospermum scoparium Forst. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 115-118 [115] [nom. nud.].

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

ID Keys

(Afifi, S., 1968) [203] (male; Eriococcus species); (Hoy, J.M., 1962) [31] (adult female; New Zealand species of Eriococcidae)

GENERAL

Detailed description and illustration of both sexes of adults and the first instar by Hoy, J.M. 1954. A new species of Eriococcus Targ. (Hemiptera, Coccidae) attacking Leptospermum in New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 465–474. Additional description and illustration by Hoy, J.M. 1962. Eriococcidae (Homoptera: Coccoidea) of New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 146: 1–219.

BIOLOGY

Each female lays about 50 eggs over a period of several weeks. The eggs hatch within half an hour of being laid and the minute nymphs wander over the plant until they find a suitable place to insert their mouth-parts (see Zondag, R. 1977. Eriococcus coriaceus Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae), gum-tree scale. Forest and Timber Insects in New Zealand, New Zealand Forest Service. No. 22. 1–4 pp.). "On plants of Leptospermum scoparium Forst., Eriococcus orariensis Hoy has from two and a partial third to three and a partial fourth generations per year at Palmerston North. The length of the life cycle is influenced by climate, ranging from a mean of 14 weeks at a weekly mean temperature of 63.7°F to a mean of 27 weeks at a weekly mean temperature of 50.9°F. Under the same environmental conditions there are marked differences in the length of individual life cycles. This factor is responsible for overlapping generations in the field. On plants of L. scoparium infested for 12 months, the population composition of E. orariensis tends towards stability with approximately 50 percent first stage nymphs and 18 percent adult females … No evidence of parthenogensis was observed (see Hoy, J.M. 1961. Eriococcus orariensis Hoy and other Coccoidea (Homoptera) associated with Leptospermum Forst. species in New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 141: 1–70)."

SYSTEMATICS

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae cylindrical, sides straight, apices truncate, setae restricted to posterior abdominal segments, other dorsal setae hair-like; posterior 2 or 3 abdominal segments nodulose (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 females occur in the bark crevices and stem axils, accompanied by much "sooty mould." Sac is greyish white and closely felted (see Hoy, J.M. 1954. A new species of Eriococcus Targ. (Hemiptera, Coccidae) attacking Leptospermum in New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 465–474). Adult female is reddish to light brown, oval, approximately 1.25 mm long and 1 mm wide tapering to the rear.

ECONOMIC AND CONTROL

This species has been devastating to stands of Leptospermum in New Zealand. An entomogenous fungus, Myrangium thwaitessI is associated with this species (see Hoy, J.M. 1961. Eriococcus orariensis Hoy and other Coccoidea (Homoptera) associated with Leptospermum Forst. species in New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 141: 1–70).

Common Name References

Hoy, J.M. 1961. Eriococcus orariensis Hoy and other Coccoidea (Homoptera) associated with Leptospermum Forst. species in New Zealand. Bulletin of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 141: 1-70 (Cited also by ) (Manuka Blight)

Naumann, I.D., Ingram, R.J. & Floyd, R. 2002. Australian Insect Common Names, based on CSIRO Handbook of Australian Insect Names. 6th edn 1993. http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/. (Manuka Blight Scale)

History of changes