Valid Names Results

Mimosicerya schraderae (Vayssiere, 1939) (Monophlebidae: Mimosicerya)

Nomenclatural History

• Nautococcus schraderae Vayssiere 1939: 124. Type data: PANAMA: Barro Colorado Island, on Annona sparguei; collected February 1937 by S. Hughes-Schrader.. Syntypes, female and first instar, Type depository: Paris: Museum National d'Histoire naturelle, France; accepted valid name Illustr.
• Nautococcus schaderae Vayssiere, 1939; Hodgson & Hardy 2013: 796. misspelling of species epithet
• Mimosicerya schraderae (Vayssiere, 1939); Foldi & Gullan 2014: 31. change of combination

Common Names

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 2 | Genera: 2

Geographic Distribution

Keys

Remarks

• Systematics: The original description by Vayssière (1939) was based on the preadult female that he had assumed was the adult female. Later Vayssière & Hughes-Schrader (1948) described the adult female and all other instars, and provided a plate of photographs and information on biology. Vayssière & Hughes-Schrader concluded that the placement of Nautococcus based on morphology (e.g., absence of legs and mouthparts in the adult female) was in the Coelostomidiinae (now family Coelostomidiidae), but, based on cytological results (2n female=6, male=5), it belonged to the Monophlebinae (now Monophlebidae).Foldi & Gullan (2014) synonymised the genus Nautococcus with Mimosicerya based on morphology of male and female instars, and consequently N. schraderae became M. schraderae (Vayssière). This species is distinct morphologically from all others in Mimosicerya. (Foldi & Gullan, 2014)
• Structure: Adult female enclosed within thick, strongly sclerotised derm of preadult, where it oviposits. Individuals or aggregations of the scale insects are frequently covered by a protective shelter constructed by ants. (Foldi & Gullan, 2014) Third-instar (preadult) female body broadly ovoid, 9.0-11.0 mm long, 7-9 mm wide and 5-6 mm high; reddish-brown with dorsal and marginal derm strongly sclerotised, mid-venter of abdomen more or less membranous. Distribution of dorsal secretions characteristic of species: dorsum and dorsal margin with white secretions distributed in regular transverse ridges on body segments, also forming 5 longitudinal lines, one median, 2 submedial and 2 submarginal to marginal; each longitudinal line separated by a space covered by a light coating of secretion. Posterior end of abdomen dorsally with a circular area, 1.7-2.3 mm in diameter, with derm covered by pores and setae, forming a plate that later is pushed out allowing adult female to protrude her abdomen. Venter with powdery secretions; antennae and legs brownish-black. An external waxy tube, about 4-5 mm long, produced from anus. (Foldi & Gullan, 2014)
• Biology: In Panama, the preadult females were found on the trunk and the largest branches, mostly fixed in cracks or under bark. Frequently the second-instar male nymphs formed little groups of 4 to 20 individuals under bark or under the protective shelter constructed by ants. Third-instar males produced a white filamentous cocoon in which they developed to the adult stage. Each adult female is enclosed within the strongly sclerotised preadult exuviae, which frequently is covered by a protective shelter constructed by ants; an association with ants is frequently observedwith this species. The posterior end of the dorsal abdomen of the preadult has a large area of circular dermsurrounded by a sclerotised rim; at maturity, this derm is strongly sclerotised and transformed into a hard plate(operculum) that is pushed out by the adult female, through which she very slowly pushes out her posteriorabdomen; this process can take some hours. Sometimes only the posterior end of the abdomen, but frequently abouta third of the abdomen, extends from the preadult exuviae, and is directed upwards and anteriorly and, in the laboratory, the attraction of males started immediately. The duration of mating varied considerably, between 8 to 126 minutes, with an average of 34 minutes, and males mated once, rarely twice, whereas the female could be mated successively by two different males. However, after mating, the female retracts its abdomen and stays within the preadult exuviae. Oviposition started from the seventh day after mating, was well advanced around days 12-13 and apparently finished by about day 14. The eggs are laid within a network of filamentous wax secretions between the body of the female and the exuvial wall of the preadult. The period from oviposition to eclosion varied widely (48 and 66 days); the first-instar nymphs stay immobile inside the preadult exuviae for about two months after which they move out and settle on the trees. The most important cause of mortality of the females, nymphs and eggs was due to predators, particularly the larvae of coccinellids. Observations in the field and the laboratory suggest that there are two distinct, not overlapping, generations per year. This life cycle appears similar to those of Llaveia Signoret and Llaveiella Morrison, which also have two distinct generations per year.Translation from French of pages 66-73 from Vayssière & Hughes-Schrader (1948) in Foldi & Gullan (2014).
• General Remarks: Detailed description of adult and third-instar female and adult male and illustrations in Foldi & Gullan, 2014.

Illustrations

Citations