Genus Sphaerococcus Maskell, 1892

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• Sphaerococcus 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] [39].

  Type species:

   Sphaerococcus casuarinae Maskell, 1892 by monotypy.

ID Keys

(Hendricks, H. & Kosztarab, M., 1999) [22] (female; world, "Legless" Mealybugs); (Williams, D.J., 1985) [37] (female; Australia)

GENERAL

Good definition and characters given by Ferris, G.F. 1918. Notes on Coccidae – II. (Hemiptera). Canadian Entomologist 50: 323–332, Afifi, S. & Kosztarab, M. 1967. Studies on the morphology and taxonomy of the males of Antonina and one related genus (Homoptera: Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Research Division Bulletin Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 15: 1–43, De Lotto, G. 1969. The mealybugs of South Africa (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), II. Entomology Memoirs, Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Republic of South Africa. Pretoria 20: 1–30, Williams, D.J. 1985. Australian Mealybugs. London : British Museum (Natural History) 431 pp. and by Hendricks, H. & Kosztarab, M. 1999. Revision of the Tribe Serrolecaniini (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Berlin & New York : de Gruyter xiv 213 pp..

SYSTEMATICS

The genus Sphaerococcus Maskell is part of the family Pseudococcidae and should contain only two species, i.e. S. casuarinae Maskell (the type species) and S. durus De Lotto (Ben-Dov, Y. 1994. A systematic catalogue of the mealybugs of the world (Insecta: Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) with data on geographical distribution, host plants, biology and economic importance. Andover, UK : Intercept Limited 686 pp.). However, it is used in the Eriococcidae to accomodate several eriococcid species that currently are not placed in a described genus.

General References

Afifi, S. & Kosztarab, M. 1967. Studies on the morphology and taxonomy of the males of Antonina and one related genus (Homoptera: Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae). Research Division Bulletin Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 15: 1-43 [36-37] (taxonomy, description)

Ben-Dov, Y. 1994. A Systematic Catalogue of the Mealybugs of the World (Insecta: Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) with Data on Geographical Distribution, Host Plants, Biology and Economic Importance. Andover, UK : Intercept Limited 686 pp. [482] (catalogue)

De Lotto, G. 1969. The mealybugs of South Africa (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), II. Entomology Memoirs, Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Republic of South Africa. Pretoria 20: 1-30 [23] (taxonomy, description)

Ferris, G.F. 1918. Notes on Coccidae – II. (Hemiptera). The Canadian Entomologist 50: 323-332

Hendricks, H. & Kosztarab, M. 1999. Revision of the Tribe Serrolecaniini (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Berlin & New York : de Gruyter xiv 213 pp. [164-166] (taxonomy, description)

Lindinger, L. 1958. Richtigstellung der Schildlausnamen in der Bearbeitung von Schmutterer, Kloft und Ludicke in 'Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten' (V. Bd., 5 Aufl., 4. Liefg., 1957). Beiträge zur Entomologie (Berlin) 8: 365-374 [371] (taxonomy)

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] [39] (taxonomy)

Morrison, H. & Morrison, E.R. 1966. An annotated list of generic names of the scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea). Miscellaneous Publication United States Department of Agriculture 1015: 1-206 [186] (taxonomy, catalogue)

Williams, D.J. 1985. Australian Mealybugs. London : British Museum (Natural History) 431 pp. [35, 37, 359] (taxonomy, description)

History of changes