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Eremococcus
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Scientific classification
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Eremococcus

Ferris
species
  • Eremococcus pirogallis
  • Eremococcus rugosus
  • Eremococcus turbinata

Eremococus is a genus of scale insect that induces galls on species of Leptospermum (tea tree) and Taxandria in Australia[1]. In all species, only the female induces a gall and males develop inside the gall of their mother.

Morphology[edit]

Like females of other scale insects, those of Eremococcus do not have wings. Adult females are described as having no legs or antennae, or just tiny vestiges of such[2], and are typically burgundy coloured and blob-like. Females are not mobile as adults, and feed, mate, reproduce and die within their galls. Adult males are pinkish and long and slender, with a very elastic penis[2]. It is suggested that the male's shape helps him to mate with a female deep inside her gall[1].


Systematics[edit]

Eremococcus is currently placed in the family Eriococcidae (the felt scales)[1], on the basis of DNA-based phylogenies that show it is closely related to some Australian gall-inducing eriococcid scale insects[3]. Previously, it had been placed in the family Asterolecaniidae (the pit scales) based on the presence of 8-shaped pores on the dorsum of nymphs[4], which were thought to be diagnostic for the pit scales.

There are currently three described species of Eremococcus. Eremococcus pirogallis and E. turbinata occur in eastern Australia on Leptospermum. Eremococcus rugosus occurs in Western Australia onTaxandria and has two described subspecies - E. rugosus rugosus and E. rugosus elongatus[5].

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Gullan P.J., Miller D.R. & Cook L.G. (2005). Gall-inducing scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea). In: Biology, Ecology, and Evolution of Gall-Inducing Arthropods (eds. Raman A, Schaefer CW & Withers TM). Science Publishers New Hampshire, pp. 159-229.
  2. ^ a b Maskell W.M. 1894 (1893) Further coccid notes: with descriptions of several new species, and discussion of various points of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 26, 65-105.
  3. ^ Cook L.G. & Gullan P.J. (2004). The gall-inducing habit has evolved multiple times among the eriococcid scale insects (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. Lond., 83, 441-452. DOI: 10.1111/j 1095-8312.2004.00396.x
  4. ^ Ben-Dov Y. (2006). A Systematic Catalogue of Eight Scale Insect Families (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the World: Aclerdidae, Asterolecaniidae, Beesoniidae, Carayonemidae, Conchaspididae, Dactylopiidae, Kerriidae and Lecanodiaspididae. Elsevier, San Diego. 388pp
  5. ^ Maskell W.M. 1897 (1896) Further coccid notes: with descriptions of new species, and discussion of points of interest. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 29, 293-331.

External links[edit]

Category:Scale insects Category:Hemiptera Category:Hemiptera of Australia Category:Insects