Valid Names Results

Sphaerococcus socialis Maskell, 1897 (Pseudococcidae: Sphaerococcus)

Sphaerococcus socialis Maskell 1897: 325-326. Type data: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Geraldton, on Myrtaceae. Syntypes, female, Type depository: Auckland: New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, New Zealand; Washington: United States National Entomological Collection, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, District of Columbia, USA; accepted valid name Illustr.

Families: 1 | Genera: 2

Countries: 1

Systematics: Slide-mounted adult female with: enlarged setae absent; hair-like body setae scattered over both surfaces; numerous dorsal quinquelocular pores on anterior abdominal segments, thorax, and head; legs absent; antennae 2- or 3-segmented; anal ring reduced to simple opening without setae or pores (Miller, 1999 personal observation).
Structure: Galls globular, of a greyish or grey-green color, varying in size. Adult female dark red and globular. Parasitized insects are white. Female of the second stage is elliptical, brownish red. Larvae are reddish brown or yellowish brown, active and elliptical. Male pupa enclosed in a small white cottony cylindrical sac, within the gall. Adult male dark red, wings grey (Maskell, 1897).
General Remarks: Original description and illustration by Maskell (1897). This species was moved to the Eriococcidae by Miller et al. (1998).