Valid Names Results

Leptopulvinaria harishi Joshi, 2025 (Coccidae: Leptopulvinaria)

Nomenclatural History

• Leptopulvinaria harishi Joshi 2025: 573. Type data: INDIA: Karnataka, Kanakapura, Ramnagara, on Litchi chinensis Sonn., 7/01/2020, by Harish, K.. Holotype, female, by monotypy and original designation Type depository: Bengaluru (Bangalore): National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; accepted valid name Notes: Paratypes: all collected on Litchi chinensis Sonn. from INDIA, Karnataka, Ramanagara district (12.5462° N, 77.4199° E): 20 adult ♀♀ on 7 slides, Kanakapura, 11.VI.2018, Harish, K Illustr.

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Foes:

Families: 2 | Genera: 2

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Geographic Distribution

Keys

• JoshiDuGu2025: pp.577 ( Adult (F) ) [Leptopulvinaria species]

Remarks

• Systematics: Leptopulvinaria harishi resembles L. sapinda in possessing numerous multilocular disc-pores on the abdomen, fairly numerous on the thorax and few on the head. It can be distinguished from L. sapinda by having (character states of L. sapinda given in parentheses): (i) body of mature adult female elongate ovate, narrowing anteriorly but with anterior end rounded (narrowing and becoming almost pointed anteriorly); (ii) dorsal tubular ducts, microducts and dorsal setae randomly scattered (arranged in a reticulate pattern); (iii) preopercular pores reaching as far forward as abdominal segment II (extending as far forward as prothorax); (iv) ano-genital fold with 3 setae along anterior margin and 3 setae on each lateral margin (each margin of fold bearing only 2 setae); and (v) ventral tubular ducts always present on head and thorax (only occasionally present). (Joshi, et al., 2025)
• Structure: Adult female mostly flat but slightly convex in medial area; body outline ovate, with posterior half widest, extremities rounded; indentations at spiracular clefts distinct in earlier instars, with white woolly wax accumulation at the entrance of each cleft. Medial area and anal plate pale yellowish; submarginal and marginal areas covered with minute brown specks, these specks merging to form transverse bars from marginal area to medial area on each side. Individual females overlap each other, often forming a dense infestation covering entire twig. As female grows, derm becomes leathery; just before oviposition the body turns pinkish completely, losing all brown specks. but after the onset of oviposition it turns brownish again. Ovisac secreted from under venter, but wax threads also develop on dorsum of ovipositing females. Eyes not seen. Eggs yellowish initially but turning pinkish as embryos develop. Males not observed in the field. (Joshi, et al., 2025) Slide-mounted adult female body 3.8–4.2 mm long, 2.0–2.5 mm wide, ovate, narrowing slightly anteriorly towards head, broadest across abdominal margins with slight indentation at each stigmatic cleft; anal cleft quite short, approximately 1/8th to 1/9th of body length. (Joshi, et al., 2025)
• Biology: The scale insects were living under the silken thread webbing or inside the leaf nests of the ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Joshi, et al., 2025)
• Economic Importance: Although the trees are being grown in a completely organic manner, the scale insects do not reach dense populations, perhaps because naturally occurring parasitoids maintain them at low levels. (Joshi, et al., 2025)
• General Remarks: Detailed description, illustration and photographs in Joshi, et al., 2025.

Illustrations

Citations