Valid Names Results

Cystococcus echiniformis Fuller, 1897 (Eriococcidae: Cystococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Cystococcus echiniformis Fuller 1897b: 1346. Type data: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, E. Kimberly, on Eucalyptus tesselaris. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Notes: Syntype series is from the Brain Collection no. 438. A lectotype was designated for C. echiniformis in Semple, et al., 2015 because this name lacks a primary type specimen and an unambiguous syntype has been identified.
• Ascelis echiniformis (Fuller, 1897); Cockerell 1902g: 114. change of combination Notes: This genus was considered by Cockerell (1902g), Fernald (1903b) and Hoy (1963) to be a junior synonym of Ascelis, but the concept of Gullan & Cockburn (1986) is that they are distinct, but closely-related genera.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 2

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Hodgso2020: pp.84 ( Adult (M) ) [Cystococcus species]
• SempleGuHo2015: pp.295-296 ( Adult (F) ) [Key to species of Cystococcus]
• SempleGuHo2015: pp.296 ( Adult (M) ) [Key to species of Cystococcus]

Remarks

• Systematics: Fuller’s (1897) original description of this species is very brief, but later he (Fuller 1899) provided a more detailed description accompanied by line drawings of the adult female and its gall. The only insect specimen with label data that clearly match collection information in Fuller (1897, 1899) is in the Brain collection (#438) in the USNM. The slide label data are: ‘Cystococcus/echiniformis/cuticle’ and ‘Cystococcus/ echiniformis/apex of abdomen’, and both slides have ‘[On Eucalyptus tesselaris/E. Kimberly [sic]. Australia/R. Helms Coll.]/438’. Semple, et al., 2015, designated the remains of this adult female as the lectotype. Females of C. echiniformis are most easily distinguished by the short, concave-ended dorsal button, which contrasts with the convex buttons of C. pomiformis and C. campanidorsalis. Found in sympatry with C. pomiformis, the galls of C. echiniformis lack the depression around the apical orifice typical of C. pomiformis. However, the shape of the dorsal button is a more reliable characteristic (when the adult female is present). (Semple, et al., 2015)
• Structure: Adult female spherical, nearly fills gall. Gall is spherical, walls are thin and brittle, the gall is dirty white in color. Adult male has purple wings (Fuller, 1899). Galls sub-spherical (mean height : diameter ratio = 1 : 1.13), but variable in shape; height 11–39mm (mean = 23 mm), diameter 16–49mm (mean = 26 mm) and side wall thickness 1.3–6.5mm (mean = 2.5 mm). Gall surface smooth to roughly textured; pale cream in colour, but changing to grey or black with age. (Semple, et al., 2015)
• Economic Importance: This species is edible and is considered to be a delicacy by the indigenous peoples (Fuller, 1899).
• General Remarks: Most detailed illustration and description by Fuller (1899). Hodgson (2002) used this species in a phylogenetic analysis of non-margarodid Coccoidea. Detailed redescription and illustrations in Semple, et al., 2015.

Illustrations

Citations