Species Kuwanina obscurata (Maskell, 1896)

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• Sphaerococcus obscuratus Maskell, W.M. 1896. Further coccid notes, with descriptions of new species and discussions of questions of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 28: 380-411 [dated 1895] [403].

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

GENERAL

Most comprehensive description and illustration by Ferris, G.F. 1919. Notes on Coccidae – IV. (Hemiptera). Canadian Entomologist 51: 249–253.

BIOLOGY

Adult female covered by a swelling of the bark of host which is frequently coated with black fungus (see Maskell, W.M. 1896. Further coccid notes, with descriptions of new species and discussions of questions of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 28: 380–411 [dated 1895]). Froggatt collected this scale on Eucalyptus longifolia and E. obtusiflora (both occur in the region where Froggatt collected) and sent one or both lots to Maskell. Maskell made an error in reporting the host names and wrote "Acacia longifolia and Eucalyptus obtusiflora". Froggatt, W.W. 1921. A new mealybug on citrus trees. (Pulvinaria ornata n. sp.). Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales 32: 427–428, forgetting his earlier collection, later thought that Maskell had made an error and corrected the host records to "Acacia linifolia and A. obtusiflora" to make them both on Acacia. The only problem is that there is an Acacia longifolia and it is very common in coastal New South Wales. So it's not clear why Froggatt would have turned A. longifolia into Acacia linifolia (Gullan, pers. comm., March 1st, 2002).

SYSTEMATICS

Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae conical, in transverse rows on abdomen; microtubular ducts present; legs absent; antennae abortive, with 3 or 4 segments (see Ferris, G.F. 1919. Notes on Coccidae – IV. (Hemiptera). Canadian Entomologist 51: 249–253). 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 discussed systematic issues concerning this species.

STRUCTURE

Adult female is dull red or yellowish red or brownish, globular or subelliptical. The female of the second stage is circular, flattish dorsally and ventrally or subglobular. First-instar nymphs are subelliptical, flattish, active. Male pupa is enclosed in a felted, yellowish, cylindrical sac which has a small orifice at the posterior end (see Maskell, W.M. 1896. Further coccid notes, with descriptions of new species and discussions of questions of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 28: 380–411 [dated 1895]).

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