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Species Maskellia nigra (Froggatt, 1898)

Introduction

Hardy & Gullan (2009) redescribed Maskellia nigra adult female and its gall, and reassigned the species from Eriococcidae to Diaspididae.

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales


Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

 

GENERAL

Detailed description and illustrations of male and female adults, first-instar nymphs and galls by Froggatt, W.W. 1898. Notes on the subfamily Brachyscelinae, with descriptions of new species. Part V. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 23: 370–379.

BIOLOGY

When host is slightly infested, the galls are large and regular in form, varying from pale green to brown, but when numerous, they twist the foliage and twigs into an irregular mass as large as a man's head, and it is tinted with red and brown (see Froggatt, W.W. 1898. Notes on the subfamily Brachyscelinae, with descriptions of new species. Part V. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 23: 370–379).

STRUCTURE

Female gall slender, thorn or spur shaped, springing from an enlarged growth or swelling upon the branchlet, broadest at the base, curving round at the tip. Female is minute and pear shaped, purplish-brown. Adult female is black and irregular. Male gall is smooth, blunt cylindrical and tube shaped; brightly tinted with red or pink, often growing in a regular row. Adult male is brown, testaceous, with ochreous tints upon the abdomen (see Froggatt, W.W. 1898. Notes on the subfamily Brachyscelinae, with descriptions of new species. Part V. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 23: 370–379).

 

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 17-Jul-2023 MODIFIED Dr Vivian Sandoval (ABRS)
05-Jun-2024 COCCOIDEA 25-Jul-2018 MOVED
21-Nov-2012 01-May-2014 MODIFIED
29-Jun-2012 29-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)