Phenacoccus solani Ferris

Moghaddam, Masumeh, 2013, A review of the mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae, Putoidae and Rhizoecidae) of Iran, with descriptions of four new species and three new records for the Iranian fauna, Zootaxa 3632 (1), pp. 1-107 : 60

Phenacoccus solani Ferris

( Fig. 33 )

Phenacoccus solani Ferris, 1918: 60 . Phenacoccus herbarum Lindinger, 1942: 115 .

DIAGNOSIS. Body of adult female broadly oval. Anal lobes well developed. Antennae usually each 9 segments. Legs well developed; claws with a denticle. Translucent pores present on hind tibia. Cerarii numbering 18 pairs. Anal lobe cerarii each with 2 lanceolate setae and a few trilocular pores; anterior cerarii similar. Circulus usually oval, often sclerotized. Ostioles normal, with inner edges of lips only lightly sclerotized. Some dorsal setae occasionally with 1 or 2 trilocular pores situated near base. Dorsal multilocular disc pores absent; ventral multilocular disc pores present posterior to vulva and usually in a single row in median areas along posterior edges of abdominal segments IV–VII. Oral collar ducts absent on dorsum; ventrally, not numerous, medially across abdominal segments V–VII, anterior to multilocular disc pores; also with 1 or 2 tubular ducts usually present near margins of some posterior abdominal segments and posterior to each anterior spiracle.

DISTRIBUTION. Afrotropical, Australasian, Neotropical, Oriental, Palaearctic: Iran, Israel, Japan and Spain. In Iran, P. solani occurs in Esfahan and Fars. It is known from 31 plant families worldwide (Ben-Dov et al., 2012).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Esfahan: Esfahan, 9 adult Ƥ, on Festuca arundinacea (Poaceae) , 24.ix.2002 (B. Hatami). Fars: Shiraz, 14 adult Ƥ, on Chrysanthemum morifolium (Asteraceae) , 6 adult Ƥ, Celosia cristata (Amaranthaceae) , 1.ix.2002 (Zibaii).

COMMENTS. The Solanum mealybug has been reported in greenhouses on the roots of the ornamental plants in Iran, but no economic damage has been recorded. A survey on the endophytic fungus, Neotyphodium spp., in Isfahan showed that this fungus is an effective biological control agent against some root-feeding pests, including P. solani (Hatami et al. 2006) .

The accompanying illustration is taken from Williams (2004) with kind permission from the author and the Keeper of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London.

Figures

FIGURE 33. Adult female Phenacoccus solani Ferris.