Valid Names Results

Gigantococcus maximus (Newstead, 1914) (Monophlebidae: Gigantococcus)

Nomenclatural History

• Icerya maxima Newstead 1914: 301. Type data: GHANA [=GOLD COAST]: Kwanyako, Winneba district, on Ficus sp.; Collected W.H. Patterson, 16.xi.1913.. Syntypes, female and first instar, Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; accepted valid name Illustr.
• Gigantococcus maximus (Newstead, 1914); Pesson & Bielenin 1966: 219. change of combination requiring emendation of specific epithet for agreement in gender
• Icerya maxima Newstead, 1914; Gavrilov-Zimin 2018: 176. revived combination (previously published) Notes: Gavrilov-Zimin rejected the genetic basis for separation of genera. Based on his morphological definition of genera, he reassigned several species within this family.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 4 | Genera: 4

Foes:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• Watson2022: pp.333 ( Adult (F) ) [Gigantococcus in continental Africa]
• Gavril2018: pp.179-180 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Icerya] Key as: Icerya maxima
• UnruhGu2008b: pp.50-51 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Gigantococcus]
• HodgsoFo2006: pp.173-174 ( Adult (M) ) [males of Monophlebidae]
• Morris1928: pp.208-211 ( Adult (F) ) [Species of Icerya]

Remarks

• Systematics: Newstead described from Africa two margarodine species bearing the species epithet maximus. Newstead (1911) described Aspidoproctus maximus, which is Homonym and Synonym of the species Aspidoproctus maximus (Lounsbury, 1908). Newstead (1914) described Icerya maxima, which is a different species, currently known as Gigantococcus maximus (Newstead, 1914). Icerya corticalis Vayssiere, 1926: 321, was synonymized with Gigantococcus maximus (Newstead, 1914) by Pesson & Bielenin (1966: 248); synonymy not recognized in Foldi (2001) or Ben-Dov (2005, 2006)]. Unruh & Gullan (2008: 37) accepted the synonymy.
• Structure: Adult female, dorsum covered with striated lamellae of white wax; those in front relatively small and irregularly concoidal in shape; median row much the smallest; submedian row very broad, curved outwards, and very thin; marginal series of great length, ribbon-like and curled (Newstead, 1914). General appearance of the adult female shown in a photograph by Newstead (1914). Tha dult male is extremely large 7.7-9.0 mm long (Hodgson & Foldi, 2006).
• General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female, adult male and first instar by Pesson & Bielenin (1966). Description and illustration of adult male by Hodgson & Foldi (2006). Description and illustration of adult female by Unruh & Gullan (2008).

Illustrations

Citations