Valid Names Results

Rhizoecus falcifer Kunckel d'Herculais, 1878 (Rhizoecidae: Rhizoecus)

Nomenclatural History

Rhizoecus falcifer Kunckel d'Herculais 1878: 164. Type data: FRANCE: Paris (in greenhouses), on roots of Seaforthia (Ptychosperma) elegans. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Budapest: Plant Protection Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary; accepted valid name Notes: Type material probably lost. D. Matile-Ferrero (1989) personal communication to Y. Ben-Dov.
Ripersia terrestris Newstead 1895a: 213. Type data: ENGLAND: London, on roots of Stephanotis (under glass). Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia1985,354). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by Lindin1935a, 145).
Rhizaecus (?) terrestris (Newstead, 1895); Cockerell 1899j: 265. change of combination
Rhizoecus africanus Brain 1915: 89. Type data: SOUTH AFRICA: Capetown. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Pretoria: South African National Collection of Insects, South Africa; junior synonym (discovered by Hamble1946, 53). Illustr.
Rhizoecus decoratus Green 1926: 177. Type data: ENGLAND: Yorkshire, Eastringham, on roots of Abutilon sp. (under glass). Lectotype, female, by subsequent designation (Willia1985,354). Type depository: London: The Natural History Museum, England, UK; junior synonym (discovered by Hamble1946, 53). Illustr.

Common Names

ground mealybug McKenz1967

Ecological Associates

Hosts:

Families: 39 | Genera: 70

Amaryllidaceae

Agapanthus | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Apocynaceae

Stephanotis | BenDov1994 McKenz1967 Newste1895a

Araceae

Zantedeschia aethiopica | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Araliaceae

Aralia | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Araucariaceae

Araucaria | GomezM1957 Martin1985

Arecaceae

Archontophoenix alexandrae | BenDov1994 | (= Ptychosperma alexandrae)
Chamaerops | GomezM1957
Chamaerops humilis | BenDov1994 LongoMaRu1989
Howea belmoreana | GomezM1957
Howea forsteriana | BenDov1994 Hamble1976 McKenz1967 | (= Kentia)
Phoenix canariensis | BenDov1994 Rungs1948
Phoenix roebelenii | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Sabal palmetto | BenDov1994 | (= Sabal blackburniana)

Asparagaceae

Agave | BenDov1994 CarnerPe1986
Dracaena | BenDov1994 McKenz1967 Willia1962
Ophiopogon | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Asphodelaceae

Phormium | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Asteraceae

Argyranthemum frutescens | BenDov1994 McKenz1967 | (= Chrysanthemum frutescens)
Cota tinctoria | BenDov1994 Hamble1976 | (= Anthemis tinctoria)
Kleinia pendula | BenDov1994 McKenz1967 | (= Senecio pendulus)

Brassicaceae

Matthiola | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Parolinia intermedia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Buxaceae

Buxus sempervirens | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Cistaceae

Cistus | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus | GomezM1957
Convolvulus arvensis | BenDov1994 Leonar1920 Marott1987a McKenz1967

Crassulaceae

Aeonium balsamiferum | BenDov1994 CarnerPe1986

Cupressaceae

Cupressus | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Cyperaceae

Carex | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Cyperus elegans | BenDov1994 McKenz1967 WilliaGr1992
Cyperus luzulae | BenDov1994 WilliaGr1992
Scleria gaertneri | BenDov1994 WilliaGr1992 | (= Scleria pratensis)

Ericaceae

Kalmia | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Escalloniaceae

Escallonia rubra | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Euphorbiaceae

Codiaeum | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Fabaceae

Acacia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Lotus | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Geraniaceae

Erodium moschatum | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Geranium | BenDov1994 CarnerPe1986
Pelargonium | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Grossulariaceae

Ribes | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Iridaceae

Iris | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Watsonia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Lamiaceae

Ajuga | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Thymus | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Malvaceae

Abutilon | BenDov1994 Green1926a
Hibiscus | BenDov1994 Cox1987
Hibiscus striatus | BenDov1994 Marott1992
Theobroma cacao | BenDov1994 WilliaGr1992

Oleaceae

Jasminum | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Ligustrum | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Syringa vulgaris | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Passifloraceae

Passiflora edulis | BenDov1994 Cox1987

Pinaceae

Picea abies | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Piperaceae

Piper | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Plantaginaceae

Veronica | BenDov1994 Hamble1976

Poaceae

Agrostis | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Cynodon dactylon | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Poa | BenDov1994 WilliaGr1992

Pteridaceae

Adiantum | BenDov1994 Willia1962

Ranunculaceae

Anemone hupehensis | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Aquilegia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Delphinium | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Eriocapitella hupehensis | BenDov1994 Hamble1976 | (= Anemone hupehensis)

Rosaceae

Fragaria | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Prunus persica | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Rubiaceae

Coffea arabica | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Coffea liberica | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Gardenia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Luculia | BenDov1994 Cox1987
Luculia grandifolia | BenDov1994 Cox1987

Rutaceae

Citrus sinensis | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Solanaceae

Capsicum annuum | BenDov1994 Cox1987
Cestrum | BenDov1994 Hamble1976
Petunia | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Solanum lycopersicum | BenDov1994 Cox1987 | (= Lycopersicon esculentum)
Solanum tuberosum | BenDov1994 Cox1987

Tropaeolaceae

Tropaeolum majus | BenDov1994 McKenz1967

Vitaceae

Vitis | Balach1927 BenDov1994
Vitis vinifera | BenDov1994 GomezM1957 Marott1987a

Associates:

Families: 1 | Genera: 1

Formicidae

Acropyga paramaribensis | JohnsoAgDe2001

Geographic Distribution

Countries: 24

Algeria | Balach1927 BenDov1994

Australia

Queensland | BenDov1994 Hamble1976 Willia1985
South Australia | BenDov1994 Willia1985

Bulgaria | TrenchTo2014

Canary Islands | BenDov1994 CarnerPe1986 MatileOr2001

Chile | KaydanKoKo2019

Costa Rica | KaydanKoKo2019

Czech Republic | BenDov1994 Zahrad1990

Ecuador | KaydanKoKo2019

France | BenDov1994 Foldi2001 Kuncke1878

Hungary | BenDov1994 KosztaKo1988F

Ireland | BenDov1994 Willia1962

Italy | BenDov1994 Leonar1920 LongoMaPe1995 LongoMaRu1989 Marott1987a Marott1992

Sicily | LongoMaPe1995 RussoMa1997

Malta | Borg1932

Mexico | BenDov1994 Hamble1976 WilliaGr1992

Morocco | BenDov1994 Rungs1948

Netherlands | JansenAl2023

New Zealand | BenDov1994 Cox1987

Saint Helena | BenDov1994 Matile1976

South Africa | BenDov1994 Brain1915

Spain | Martin1985

Suriname | BenDov1994 Green1933 Hamble1976 WilliaGr1992

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad | BenDov1994 WilliaGr1992

United Kingdom

England | BenDov1994 Newste1903

United States

California | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Florida | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Missouri | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
New Jersey | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
New York | BenDov1994 McKenz1967
Oregon | SchuhMo1948

Keys

MazzeoPeMa2023: pp.7-8 ( Adult (F) ) [Rhizoecidae recorded or intercepted in Italy]
KaydanKoKo2019: pp.3-4 ( Adult (F) ) [Neotropical Rhizoecus species]
Hodgso2012: pp.49-50 ( Adult (M) ) [Key to the adult males of Rhizoecinae seen during this study:]
KozarKo2007: pp.132-137 ( Adult (F) ) [world]
Marott1995: pp.120 ( Adult (F) ) [Italy]
RussoMa1992: pp.218 ( Adult (F) ) [Italy]
Tang1992: pp.54 ( Adult (F) ) [China]
WilliaGr1992: pp.496 ( Adult (F) ) [Central and South America]
Cox1987: pp.85 ( Adult (F) ) [New Zealand]
Willia1987a: pp.191 ( Adult (F) ) [Australia]
Willia1985: pp.353 ( Adult (F) ) [Australia]
Hamble1979: pp.148 ( Adult (F) ) [U.S.A., Florida]
Cox1978: pp.624 ( Adult (F) ) [New Zealand]
Hamble1976: pp.7 ( Adult (F) ) [World]
Hamble1974: pp.148 ( Adult (F) ) [World]
Hamble1973: pp.64 ( Adult (F) ) [U.S.A., Florida]
McKenz1967: pp.371 ( Adult (F) ) [U.S.A., California]
McKenz1962: pp.673 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
Willia1962: pp.41 ( Adult (F) ) []
McKenz1961: pp.42 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
McKenz1960: pp.743 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
Ferris1953a: pp.427 ( Adult (F) ) [North America]
Hamble1946: pp.51 ( Adult (F) ) [World]

Remarks

Systematics: Rh. falcifer and Ripersiella hibisci were the only macropterous species seen during the study in Hodgson (2012). However, in many other respects Rh. falcifer and R. hibisci differ markedly (character-states on R. hibisci in brackets): (i) antennae almost as long as body (about half as long); (ii) antennal segments of several distinct shapes (antennal segments mainly barrel-shaped); (iii) head behind scapes without a constriction (constricted); (iv) head with a pair of loculate pores (lp absent on head); (v) without an obvious constriction between pro- and mesothorax (constriction distinct); (vi) prosternum possibly absent (present as a thin transverse line with 2 apophyses); (vii) lateral arms of mesofurca almost parallel (diverging strongly); (viii) loculate pores on abdomen present on segments I and VIII and mainly in pleural region (present dorsally on all segments); (ix) penial sheath more or less narrowing gradually (ps with a strong constriction about half-way along length). (Hodgson, 2012)
Structure: McKenzie (1967) provided a colour illustration of the adult female and its habitat.
Biology: Occurring on the roots of its host plants.
Economic Importance: A pest of ornamental plants in various parts of the world (Cox, 1987; Zahradník, 1990).
General Remarks: Description and illustration of adult female by Ferris (1953a), McKenzie (1967), Hambleton (1976), Cox (1978, 1987), Zahradník (1990), Williams & Granara de Willink (1992) and by Kozár & Konczné Benedicty (2007). Description and illustration of adult male by Beardsley (1962).

Illustrations

Citations

Balach1927: distribution, host, 188
Beards1962: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 88-92
BenDov1994: catalog, 453-454
Brain1915: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 89-90
CarnerPe1986: distribution, host, 60
ChoiLe2022: taxonomy, 362
Cocker1899j: taxonomy, 265
Cox1978: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 625, 628, 634
Cox1987: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 87-88, 211
DowellGiJe2016: distribution, 119
Ferris1953a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 444-445
Foldi2001: distribution, 303-308
FoldiGe2018: distribution, list, 13
Gavril2018: reproduction, 227
GomezM1957: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 69-72
Green1926a: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 177-179
Green1933: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 52-53
Hamble1946: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 53-56
Hamble1976: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 23-25, 69
Hodgso2012: description, illustration, structure, taxonomy, 26-29
IPMS1994: control, distribution, host, 1-2
JansenAl2023: dispersal, host, 36
KaydanKoKo2019: distribution, key, 3, 5
KondoWa2022a: distribution, host, list, 25
KosztaKo1988F: distribution, host, 60
KozarKo2007: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 210-212
Kuncke1878: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 164
LaflinGuPa2004: distribution, host, 475-477
Leonar1920: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 424-425
Lindin1935: distribution, host, taxonomy, 145-146
LongoMaPe1995: distribution, 120
LongoMaRu1989: distribution, host, taxonomy, 174
Marott1987a: distribution, host, 112
Marott1992a: distribution, host, taxonomy, 97-98
Martin1985: distribution, host, taxonomy, 98
MatileOr2001: distribution, host, 196
MazzeoPeMa2023: Cardinium, key, 8
McKenz1967: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 389-392
MifsudMaRu2014: distribution, host, 516
Millar2002: illustration, 207
Millar2002: illustration, 207
Newste1895a: distribution, host, taxonomy, 213
Newste1903: distribution, host, taxonomy,
PalmaJBlGu2019: distribution,
RamosPCaKo2014: economic importance, 27
RodrigNaVa2019: distribution, host, 470
Rungs1948: distribution, host, 116
RussoMa1997: distribution, 51
SchuhMo1948: distribution, host, 36
Tang1992: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 59-60
TrenchTo2014: distribution, 67
Willia1961a: taxonomy, 93
Willia1962: distribution, host, 47
Willia1985: distribution, host, taxonomy, 353-354
Willia2017a: catalog, list of species, 251, 252
WilliaGr1992: description, distribution, host, illustration, taxonomy, 530-532
WilliaMa2012: distribution, 85, 87
Zahrad1990: description, distribution, host, taxonomy, 44-45