Gigantococcus cajani (Newstead)

Unruh, Corinne M. & Gullan, Penny J., 2008, Identification guide to species in the scale insect tribe Iceryini (Coccoidea: Monophlebidae), Zootaxa 1803 (1), pp. 1-106 : 55-56

Gigantococcus cajani (Newstead)

Palaeococcus cajani Newstead, 1917: 7 .

Crypticerya cajani (Newstead) ; Vayssière (1926: 315).

Gigantococcus cajani (Newstead) ; Unruh & Gullan (2008: 37) .

Unmounted material. Third-instar female covered in pure white wax arranged in distinct tufts as follows: margin with 13–14 short and rounded tufts packed closely together, followed by submarginal constriction and another row of waxy tufts; anterior portion with cluster of tufts. Flocculent secretion present beneath body (adapted from Newstead, 1917).

Slide-mounted material. Third-instar female oval (lectotype 3.8 mm long, 3.0 mm wide). Antennae 8 or 9 segmented. Eyes and mouthparts as for tribe. Legs subequal, robust. Thoracic spiracles as for genus; derm outside atrial opening with 1–4 simple multilocular pores, each 9–11 µm in diameter, with trilocular centre and 6–8 outer loculi. Hair-like setae as for genus, longest sparsely scattered around margin, densest at posterior. Flagellate setae as for genus. Simple multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with bilocular or trilocular centre and 6–8 outer loculi, covering dorsal surface and ventral margin. Simple multilocular pores, each 9–10 µm in diameter, with bilocular (appearing reniform) or trilocular centre and 4–6 outer loculi scattered on ventromedial derm. Simple multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter, with quinquelocular or hexalocular centre and 6–8 outer loculi, scattered around ventral submargin. Cicatrices oval, numbering 3, subequal in size. Abdominal spiracles as for genus. Anal tube not visible on specimen; anal opening surrounded by typical multilocular pores, each 10–11 µm in diameter with bilocular or trilocular centre and 8–10 elongate outer loculi.

Type data. [S.] NIGERIA: Agege, ex pigeon pea [= Cajanus cajan ], 1914 (Dr. W.A. Lamborn) .

Type material. Lectotype here designated: 3 rd -instar nymph, “I.B.E./S. Nigeria: Agege / On Pigeon pea: 1914/ Dr. W.A. Lamborn /223. 32/B.M. 1916–190. 205”//“ Palaeococcus / cajani, Newst / Type ♀ /Type H.T. [round sticker]/R.N. B.M.N.H. 1916–190.” ( BMNH).

Taxonomic notes. Refer to the Gi. ewarti group for discussion of similar species.

Newstead (1917) believed that he was describing an adult female but he described and illustrated 9-segmented antennae. Presumably, he placed this species in Palaeococcus originally because of the lack of an ovisac. Gigantococcus cajani is placed in the Gi. ewarti group based on the shape of the pores that resemble the multilocular pores present in other third-instar females in the group. This species is a possible synonym of another species in the group.