Species Unplaced froggatti Maskell, 1894

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• Sphaerococcus froggatti Maskell, W.M. 1894. Remarks on certain genera of Coccidae. The Entomologist 27: 44-46, 93-95, 166-168 [94].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NZAC 2 slides with 1 adult ♀, 6 first-instar nymphs and several embryos + 2 pill boxes of dry material, Flemington, near Sydney, NSW; USNM 3 slides with 1 adult ♀, 2 first-instar nymphs and 5 first-instar nymphs + a box of dry meterial with several unopenend galls (Maskell Collection No. 378), Flemington, near Sydney, NSW.

  Type host:

   Melaleuca linariifolia Smith [MYRTACEAE] (synonym of Melaleuca trichostachya Lindley)

Introduction

Having examined the type material, Miller et al. (1998) moved this species into the Eriococcidae for the following reasons: the first-instar nymph possesses microtubular ducts, enlarged lateral setae, and a 3-segmented labium. The adult female is very similar to the adult female of Sphaerococcus socialis.
Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae absent; hair-like body setae scattered over both surfaces; numerous quinquelocular pores on both surfaces; legs absent; antennae 1- or 2-segmented (see Miller 1999).
Females form brown or reddish yellow galls, attached at the base to the twigs of host. Galls are cup shaped in form, but covered with curling cylindrical processes, often much longer than the basal gall, so that the whole gall is enveloped in a feathery mass of these filaments. Adult female develops on the gall cavity, is dull red in color and is dusted with white meal giving it a bluish grey tint. Female is subglobular in form (see Froggatt 1921).

General References

Froggatt, W.W. 1921. A descriptive catalogue of the scale insects ('Coccidae') of Australia. Part III. Science Bulletin, Department of Agriculture, New South Wales 19: 1-43 [10]

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 [291]

Miller, F. 1999. Take control of scale infestations. American Nurseryman 190(10): 14

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