Valid Names Results

Crisicoccus azaleae (Tinsley, 1898) (Pseudococcidae: Crisicoccus)

Nomenclatural History

• Dactylopius azaleae Tinsley 1898c: 319. Type data: U.S.A.: California, San Jose, in Japanese nursery, on Azalea sp.. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name
• Pseudococcus azaleae (Tinsley, 1898); Fernald 1903b: 88. change of combination
• Pseudococcus taxi Kanda 1943: 51. Type data: JAPAN: Hakuraku, Yokohama, on Taxus cuspidata var. ambraculifera and on Cephalotaxus drupacea. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Department of Entomology Collection, Hawaii, USA; junior synonym (discovered by Kawai1980, 109).
• Crisicoccus azaleae (Tinsley, 1898); Ferris 1953a: 305. change of combination
• Planococcus azaleae (Tinsley, 1898); Ezzat & McConnell 1956: 63. change of combination
• Crisicoccus taxi (Kanda, 1943); Kawai 1972: 6. change of combination

Common Names

• azalea mealybug McKenz1967
• Azalea mealybug McKenz1967

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 12 | Genera: 14

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• TanakaKa2022b: pp.567 ( Adult (F) ) [Japanese Crisicoccus species]
• DanzigGa2015: pp.199-200 ( Adult (F) ) [Palaearctic Crisicoccus species]
• Tang1992: pp.348 ( Adult (F) ) [Palaearctic & Oriental regions]
• Kawai1980: pp.109 ( Adult (F) ) [Japan]
• McKenz1967: pp.125 ( Adult (F) ) [U.S.A., California]
• Ferris1953a: pp.304 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]

Remarks

• Systematics: This species is similar to Crisicoccus pini in having a small number of cerarii (< 13 pairs) and oral collar tubular ducts of one size only. However, it differs from C. pini in the following morphological characteristics (contrasting characteristics of C. pini are given in parentheses): (i) a circulus usually present between abdominal segments III and IV on the venter (circulus always lacking); (ii) presence of spiniform and mostly straight dorsal setae (dorsal setae are mostly flagellate and slightly curved); and (iii) thoracic segments with a few ventral oral collar tubular ducts (thoracic segments without ventral oral collar tubular ducts). In particular, C. azaleae is characterized by straight, spiniform dorsal setae, which are significantly different from the curved flagellate setae in C. pini. (Tanaka & Kamitani 2022b). Danzig & Gavrilov-Zimin (2015) stated that “Crisicoccus azaleae (Tinsley 1898) is very similar, probably conspecific with C. pini” However Tanaka & Kamitani (2022b) stated that, both species are clearly different and are treated in ScaleNet as well separated species.
• Structure: Adult female 3‒4 mm long, dark purple to purple-brown, covered with a white powdery wax. Projections of wax secretion from body margin short and indistinct on cephalothorax, slightly longer on a few segments of posterior part of body. Body contents of this species turn blue-black to dark green in 10% potassium hydroxide solution (Kawai 1980, translated by HT). Slide-mounted adult female body elongate oval, 1.9–3.1 mm long and 0.9–1.9 mm wide; derm membranous; segmentation recognizable but not well developed. Anal lobes well developed, ventral surface with an anal lobe bar and a long apical seta, 154–239 μm long. Antenna 334–432 μm long, with 8 segments and many flagellate setae. (Tanaka & Kamitani, 2022b)
• Biology: Occurring on the leaves and stems of its host plants.
• General Remarks: Good description and illustration of the adult female given by Ferris (1953a) and by McKenzie (1967). Good description of the adult female given by Kawai (1980) and by Tang (1992).

Illustrations

Citations